Successful treatment of a prolactinoma with the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole

Abstract

Summary In this report, we describe a female patient with both prolactinoma and psychotic disorder who was successfully treated with aripiprazole, a partial dopamine 2 receptor agonist. During the follow-up of more than 10 years, her psychotic symptoms improved considerably, prolactin levels normalised and the size of the prolactinoma decreased. This observation may be of clinical relevance in similar patients who often are difficult to treat with the regular dopaminergic drugs. Learning points Prolactinoma coinciding with psychosis can represent a therapeutic challenge. In contrast to many other antipsychotic drugs, aripiprazole is associated with a decrease in prolactin levels. Aripiprazole can be a valuable pharmaceutical tool to treat both prolactinoma and psychosis.