Abstract

EFFECT OF ARPIPRAZOLE ON AMISULPRIDE INDUCED HYPERPROLACTINEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

*Dr.Ramasubramanian Chellamuthu, Dr.Vikhram Ramasubramanian, R.Meera,P.RajaSoundara Pandian, Madhavan Mallayasamy

Abstract

Aripiprazole is a dopamine D2 receptor partial agonist with partial agonist activity at serotonin 5HT1A receptors and antagonist activity at 5HT2A receptors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Aripiprazole on hyperprolactinemia in adult schizophrenia patients induced by Amisulpride. The study sample consists of 53 patients, 18 to 50 years old treated for schizophrenia. Out of 53 patients, 35 patients had a normal prolactin level within 2 weeks, 9 patients within 4 weeks and 4 patients within 6 weeks and 2 patients within 8 weeks. However the prolactin level was not back to normal for 3 patients and one patient’s prolactin level decreased below normal level. Amisulpridedose was not changed during the study period. Enrolled patients showed normal level of prolactin after augmenting the Aripiprazole in the treatment and the authors concluded that the addition of Aripiprazole rapidly normalizes the Amisulpride induced Hyperprolactinemia. The normalization of patient’s prolactin level is highly statistically significance and the P value is less than 0.0001by conventional criteria (Student t-Test).

Keywords: Prolactin,Hyperprolactinemia, schizophrenia. Amisulpride, Aripiprazole.