title: Elevated prolactin levels in male youths treated with risperidone and quetiapine.
abstract: The aim of this study was to report on the serum prolactin levels in 70 male youths at a residential treatment center who were treated with either risperidone or quetiapine. This is a cross-sectional retrospective medical chart review of 50 males (mean age, 13.5+/-2.8 years) treated with risperidone (mean dose, 2.4+/-1.6 mg/day) and 20 males (mean age, 13.5+/-2.4 years) treated with quetiapine (mean dose, 317.5+/-238 mg/day). Serum prolactin levels were drawn according to a protocol, after at least 6 weeks of treatment. Prolactin was above the upper limit of normal for 68% of the patients on risperidone and 20% of the patients on quetiapine (chi2 analysis: R>Q; p<0.001). Both risperidone and quetiapine produced dose-related increases in serum prolactin levels (R, r=0.34, p=0.017; Q, r=0.45, p=0.05). No correlation was found between duration of treatment and prolactin levels. Given that hyperprolactinemia secondary to antipsychotic treatment may result in reproductive and growth irregularities, periodic long-term monitoring during treatment with these two atypical antipsychotics (and perhaps others as well) may be warranted.
authors.affiliation: Adult Psychiatry Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Paul I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Kymissis
authors.forename: Amy J L
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012114:Residential Treatment; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D018967:Risperidone