Risperidone as a galactogogue of choice in peripartum: A concise review / Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

ABSTRACT

@#Human lactation is a dynamic physiological process that produces a complex biological fluid that provides nutritive and nonnutritive factors for an optimal child growth and well-being. Several factors play a formidable role in maternal breast milk production with respect to quality, and quantity, which will adequately sustain the child for at least the first 6 months after delivery. Evidence has shown majority of new mothers who wished to immediately commence exclusive breastfeeding after birth as recommended by the WHO, are unable to initiate lactation immediately. In view of this lactation insufficiency, health-care personnel have not only been campaigning on appropriate breastfeeding education but also offer early lactation support such as encouraging liberal fluid intake, dietary modifications, and in a worst-case scenario, administering agents/drugs such as galactogogue. Orthodox galactogogues in current use are either hormonal or antipsychotics; most of them have relative efficacy and safety limitations. Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic which has been used for decades with established safety in lactating mothers and the highest propensity to induce galactorrhea as a secondary effect when compared to other antipsychotics that are currently being used as galactogogues. We call the attention of the medical community in conducting further researches on its possible adoption as a galactogogue, using this review as an insight.