Effects of Atypical Antipsychotics on Serum Prolactin and Testosterone Levels in Schizophrenic Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The dopamine-blocking effects and the associated side effects(amenorrhea, lactation, sexual dysfunct of classical antipsychotics in schizophrenic patients have been studied for a long time. The purpose of this study to find out these effects of new antipsychotics(risperidone, olanzapine) in schizophrenic patients treated with clinical relevant doses. METHOD: Plasma levels of both prolactin and testosterone were measured in 91 schizophrenic patients(28 taking haloperidol, 4-20mg/day ; 31 taking risperidone, 2-6mg/day/ 32 taking olanzapine, 5-20mg/day). RESULTS: In male schizophrenic patients, the prolactin levels of risperidone group(76.44+/-38.85ng/ml) and haloperidol group(60.26+/-20.74ng/ml) had no significant difference, but were significantly higher than that of olanzapine(26.90+/-5.36ng/ml). In female, the prolactin level of olanzapine group(36.66+/-17.55) was significantly lower than those of risperidone(121.7+/-.33) and haloperidol group(161.66+/-37.53). And prolactin level of risperdone group was lower than that of haloperidol group. While the testosterone plasma level of risperidone, haloperidol and olanzapine in both male and female schizophrenic patients had no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: At doses known to be effective in popular clinical setting, prolactin level in patients taking risperidone we higher than that of haloperidol, while olanzapine showed no significant difference in terms of prolactin plasma level haloperidol. New antipsychotics may not influence the testosterone plasma level.