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Is Adjunct Aripiprazole Effective in Treating Hyperprolactinemia Induced by Psychotropic Medication? A Narrative Review

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Abstract

Psychotropic medication treatment can cause elevated serum prolactin levels and hyperprolactinaemia (HPRL). Reports have suggested that aripiprazole may decrease elevated prolactin. The aim of this review was to assess evidence for the efficacy of adjunct aripiprazole in the treatment of psychotropic-induced HPRL. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to identify randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of adjunct aripiprazole in patients with HPRL attributed to primary psychotropic medications. Data for individual patients from case studies, chart reviews and open-label studies were also identified and assessed. Six RCTs, with a total of 609 patients, met inclusion criteria. Primary psychotropics included risperidone, haloperidol, paliperidone, fluphenazine and loxapine. Reductions in prolactin from baseline, before the introduction of aripiprazole, were significantly greater for adjunct aripiprazole than for adjunct placebo in all the studies (p = 0.04 to p < 0.0001). Normalisation of serum prolactin levels was significantly more likely with adjunct aripiprazole than adjunct placebo (p = 0.028 to p < 0.001, data from three studies). Improvement or resolution of HPRL-related symptoms (galactorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, amenorrhoea and sexual dysfunction) were reported in three studies. Prolactin levels decreased in all case reports and in both of two open-label studies; they normalised in 30/41 patients (73.2%) in case studies and 12/29 (41.4%) in the open-label studies. Adjunct aripiprazole was statistically significantly effective in treating elevated serum prolactin levels in six RCTs. Evidence from case reports and open-label studies suggests a degree of effectiveness in most patients.

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Notes

  1. Conversion from ng/mL to mIU/L according to the WHO standard conversion rate: mIU/L = ng/mL × 21.2

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  1. East London Foundation NHS Trust, 9 Rush Court, Bedford, MK40 3JT, UK

    Frank M. C. Besag

  2. University College London, London, UK

    Frank M. C. Besag & Michael J. Vasey

  3. King’s College London, London, UK

    Frank M. C. Besag

  4. East London Foundation NHS Trust, Glen Road, Cherry Tree Way, Newham, London, E13 8SP, UK

    Iffah Salim

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Besag, F.M.C., Vasey, M.J. & Salim, I. Is Adjunct Aripiprazole Effective in Treating Hyperprolactinemia Induced by Psychotropic Medication? A Narrative Review. CNS Drugs 35, 507–526 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-021-00812-1

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