ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Hyperprolactinemia and associated side effect, amenorrhea, often occur with risperidone treatment. We investigated the effect of adjunctive treatment with aripiprazole on risperidone induced amenorrhea in female patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 24 female patients with adjunctive aripiprazole treatment for risperidone induced amenorrhea between August 2008 and July 2009 was conducted. The information collected included age, menstrual cycle, duration of no menstruation, prolactin level (before aripiprazole treatment and after regaining menstruation), dose of risperidone and aripiprzole, time from starting aripiprazole adjunctive treatment to regaing menstruation. The Student's t-test, Pearson's Chi-square test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Mean percent decrease in prolactin level for all aripiprazole-treated patients was 71.4+/-8.6%. 85.7% (18/21) of patients resumed menstruation, while 14.3% (3/21) did not regain. In patients with regaining menstruation, mean time from starting aripiprazole to restarting menstruation was 6.6+/-2.4 weeks, mean dose of aripiprazole was 12.2+/-3.9 mg/day (dose range, 5 mg to 20 mg/day). Aripiprazole dose for regaining menstruation was not significantly correlated with baseline prolactin level. CGI score was not significantly changed after aripiprazole treatment. The cutoff point of prolactin level significantly increasing amenorrhea was 40 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive aripiprazole treatment is very effective to treat risperidone induced amenorrhea in female patients with schizophrenia.