ABSTRACT
OBJECT: Risperidone, unlike other atypical antipsychotics, is thought to elevate prolactin levels. This paper examines the relationship of risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia and the sexual dysfunctions of the patients in the real clinical practice. METHODS: Forty nine patients (male 22, female 27) with 6 month-over risperidone medication were assigned and serum prolactin was assayed in serum by radioimmunometric assay. In the distinction of sex, six adverse events possibly associated with increased prolactin levels were determined by interviewing the patients (poor erection, ejaculatory dysfunction, galactorrhea, decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction and obesity in male;amenorrhea, vaginal dryness, galactorrhea, decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction and obesity in female). RESULTS: In 49 patients, thirty six patients (male 15;56%, female 21;95%) showed hyperprolactinemia and twenty two patients (male 13;48%, female 8;36%) had sexual side-effects. Both risperidone dosage per day and duration were not correlated with prolactin levels and adverse events. There was no significant direct correlation between serum prolactin levels and sexual adverse events. CONCLUSION: The risperidone-associated increase in serum prolactin levels was not significantly directly correlated with the emergence of possible prolactin-related adverse events in the real clinical practice. However, our results suggest that risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia may play a role in sexual dysfunction of female patients.