Hyperprolactinemia and possibly related development of prolactinoma during amisulpride treatment; three cases

J Psychopharmacol. 2009 Aug;23(6):723-6. doi: 10.1177/0269881108091252. Epub 2008 Jun 18.

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating psychotic mental disorder that affects about 1% of the world's population. Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay of treatment in schizophrenia. Hyperprolactinemia, which is a common side effect of typical antipsychotics, is also associated with the use of some of the newer atypical agents. Antipsychotics may enhance prolactinoma growth as manifested by an increase in serum prolactin concentration. Prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas possibly related with antipsychotics have been described in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first series of cases showing a possible relation between pituitary adenomas and amisulpride treatment in patients with schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amisulpride
  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperprolactinemia / chemically induced*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / chemically induced*
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Prolactinoma / chemically induced*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Schizophrenia / complications
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Sulpiride / adverse effects
  • Sulpiride / analogs & derivatives*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Sulpiride
  • Amisulpride
  • Prolactin