Bromocriptin and Cabergolin in Treatment of Hyperprolactinemia in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

Abstract

IntroductionCorrection of the syndrome of hyperprolactinemia is very important problem of psychopharmacotherapy.AimsComparative assessment of efficacy by bromocriptin and cabergolin action in syndrome of hyperprolactinemia in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.Methods120 female patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia (86) and schizoaffective disorder (34) were treated for a long period with risperidon; all of them suffered of hyperprolactinemia. Bromocriptin and cabergolin were used for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia. All patients were separated for 2 groups: patients of the 1st group (n = 64) were treated with bromocriptin (5 mg daily/2 months), patients of the 2nd group (n = 56) - with cabergolin (5 mg weekly/2 months). The level of prolactin was estimated in blood serum using immunoenzyme method.ResultsIn the 1st group 48 patients (75%) were responders: prolactin level decreased from 1997 ± 504 m ME/I to 1125 ± 293 m ME/I (p ≤ 0.05) and in 16 (25%) nonresponders prolactin level did not change - 2165 ± 606 m ME/I before and 2190 ± 441 m ME/I after the treatment (p ≥ 0.05). In the 2nd group 48 patients were responders (85.7%) and serum prolactin level was reduced in the range of 30-75% from 2294 ± 634 mME/l to 1109 ± 240 mME/l (p ≤ 0.05). In the nonresponders (8 patients; 14.3%) changes of serum prolactin were insignificant (2514 ± 578 mME/l/ before and 2084 ± 451 mME/l after the therapy; p ≥ 0.05).ConclusionsInvestigation has shown a high level of efficiency of cabergolin (dostinex) and bromocriptin in correction of hyperprolactinemia.