Psychiatry Investig.  2017 May;14(3):368-371. 10.4306/pi.2017.14.3.368.

Serum Prolactin Levels in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Receiving Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitor Monotherapy for 3 Months: A Prospective Study

• Park YM

• KMID: 2378653
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2017.14.3.368

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
It is unclear whether selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can significantly increase the prolactin level. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between the prolactin level and the administration of SSRIs such as escitalopram and sertraline. An additional purpose was to determine whether the elevation of prolactin differs between escitalopram and sertraline treatment.
METHODS
Serum prolactin levels were measured at baseline and after 3 months in 23 patients who received SSRI monotherapy with escitalopram (n=18) (ESC group) or sertraline (n=5) (SERT group) for 3 months.
RESULTS
The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia at posttreatment was 34.8% (8/23). The overall pretreatment and posttreatment prolactin levels were 21.86±20.21 and 19.89±12.03 ng/mL (mean±SD), respectively, with ranges of 6.85-86.20 and 5.19-47.61 ng/mL. The pretreatment and posttreatment prolactin levels were 20.66±15.92 and 21.97±12.33 ng/mL, respectively, in the ESC group, and 26.18±33.75 and 12.43±7.76 ng/mL in the SERT group.
CONCLUSION
Clinicians should be aware that hyperprolactinemia can appear in patients receiving escitalopram or sertraline, even though they do not need routine monitoring for prolactin levels.

Keyword

SSRI; Serotonin; Prolactin; Hyperprolactinemia

MeSH Terms

Citalopram
Depressive Disorder, Major*
Humans
Hyperprolactinemia
Prevalence
Prolactin*
Prospective Studies*
Serotonin
Sertraline
Citalopram
Prolactin
Serotonin
Sertraline