Am J Psychiatry 1987; 144:1037-1041
Copyright © 1987 by American Psychiatric Association
Effect of bromocriptine on affect and libido in hyperprolactinemia
MC Koppelman, BL Parry, JA Hamilton, SW Alagna and DL Loriaux
Six women with primary hyperprolactinemia (mean prolactin level, 50 ng/ml)
were matched with six normal women on eight factors influencing life style.
Observers blind to endocrine status followed the subjects weekly for 10
weeks. Patients took bromocriptine, 2.5 mg twice daily, or placebo in a
randomized double-blind sequence with crossover at 5 weeks. The mean
Hamilton score for the patients was compatible with mild depression and
higher than that for normal subjects during placebo but not during
bromocriptine treatment. Libido was similar in both groups during placebo
and bromocriptine. The mean number of orgasms reported per day was lower in
patients than in normal subjects during both treatment conditions, although
one patient reported orgasms during drug treatment only. Hyperprolactinemia
in women may be associated with mild depression and a decrease in orgasmic
frequency.
