Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Shim, J.-C. Articles by Conley, R. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Shim, J.-C. Articles by Conley, R. R. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Other Somatic Therapy Conventional Neuroleptics

Adjunctive Treatment With a Dopamine Partial Agonist, Aripiprazole, for Antipsychotic-Induced Hyperprolactinemia: A Placebo-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: Hyperprolactinemia and associated side effects often occur with antipsychotics. The authors investigated the effect of adjunctive treatment with aripiprazole on hyperprolactinemia and psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia maintained with haloperidol. METHOD: Fifty-six patients with hyperprolactinemia taking haloperidol were enrolled. Haloperidol dose was fixed; aripiprazole was dosed at 15 mg/day for the first 4 weeks, then 30 mg/day for the following 4 weeks. Serum prolactin, haloperidol, and aripiprazole levels were measured. Symptoms and side effects were assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Clinical Global Impression symptom scale, Simpson-Angus Rating Scale, and Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8. RESULTS: Prolactin levels of patients receiving aripiprazole significantly decreased over time, demonstrating a significant time effect and a time-by-group interaction. In the aripiprazole group, 88.5% of patients at week 8 had prolactin levels normalize compared to 3.6% of patients receiving placebo. Among 11 female patients with menstrual disturbances randomly assigned to aripiprazole, seven patients regained menstruation during the study, whereas none receiving placebo did. Plasma levels of haloperidol were not significantly altered. No significant time effect and time-by-group interactions on BPRS, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and Simpson-Angus Rating Scale scores were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive aripiprazole treatment reversed hyperprolactinemia in both sexes, resulting in reinstatement of menstruation in female patients, with no significant effects on psychopathology and extrapyramidal symptoms. Aripiprazole has higher affinity to dopamine D₂ receptors than haloperidol, which is the likely cause of this observation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. HAZRA, D. C. MAMO, and G. REMINGTON Adjunctive Versus Monotherapeutic Treatment for Schizophrenia: Addressing Antipsychotic Side Effects Am J Psychiatry, March 1, 2008; 165(3): 396 - 397. [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. C Brahm, G. A Fast, and R. C Brown Buspirone for Autistic Disorder in a Woman with an Intellectual Disability Ann. Pharmacother., January 1, 2008; 42(1): 131 - 137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2007 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us