Elevated Prolactin Levels in Male Youths Treated with Risperidone and Quetiapine

Abstract

The aim of this study was to report on the serum prolactin levels in 70 male youths at a residential treatment center who were treated with either risperidone or quetiapine. This is a cross-sectional retrospective medical chart review of 50 males (mean age, 13.5 ± 2.8 years) treated with risperidone (mean dose, 2.4 ± 1.6 mg/day) and 20 males (mean age, 13.5 ± 2.4 years) treated with quetiapine (mean dose, 317.5 ± 238 mg/day). Serum prolactin levels were drawn according to a protocol, after at least 6 weeks of treatment. Prolactin was above the upper limit of normal for 68% of the patients on risperidone and 20% of the patients on quetiapine(chi² analysis: R > Q; p < 0.001). Both risperidone and quetiapine produced doserelated increases in serum prolactin levels (R, r = 0.34, p = 0.017; Q, r = 0.45, p = 0.05). No correlation was found between duration of treatment and prolactin levels. Given that hyperprolactinemia secondary to antipsychotic treatment may result in reproductive and growth irregularities, periodic long-term monitoring during treatment with these two atypical antipsychotics (and perhaps others as well) may be warranted.