Dopamine agonists and antipsychotics. 2020

Mark E Molitch
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

There can potentially be a number of clinical interactions that could adversely affect patient outcomes in a patient with a prolactinoma and psychiatric disease that might require antipsychotic and dopamine agonist treatment. Dopamine agonists stimulate the dopamine D2 receptor, resulting in a decrease in prolactin (PRL) levels and in prolactinoma size but action on dopamine receptors in the meso-limbic system may rarely cause psychosis and more commonly cause impulse control disorders. The psychiatric benefits of antipsychotic agents involve blocking the D2 and other dopamine receptors but this blockade often also causes hyperprolactinemia. In patients with macroprolactinomas and psychosis, observation, estrogen/progestin replacement, and surgery can be considered in addition to dopamine agonists. In those who require dopamine agonists for PRL and tumor size control, the introduction of antipsychotics may blunt this effect, so that higher doses of the dopamine agonists may be needed. Alternatively, antipsychotics that have less of a blocking effect at the D2 receptor, such as aripiprazole, can be tried, if appropriate. For patients already on antipsychotic drugs who are found to have a macroprolactinoma for which dopamine agonists are required, dopamine agonists can be initiated at low dose and the dose escalated slowly. However, such patients require careful monitoring of psychiatric status to avoid the rare complication of exacerbation of the underlying psychosis. Again, if appropriate, use of antipsychotics that have less of a blocking effect at the D2 receptor may allow lower doses of dopamine agonists to be used in this situation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006966 Hyperprolactinemia Increased levels of PROLACTIN in the BLOOD, which may be associated with AMENORRHEA and GALACTORRHEA. Relatively common etiologies include PROLACTINOMA, medication effect, KIDNEY FAILURE, granulomatous diseases of the PITUITARY GLAND, and disorders which interfere with the hypothalamic inhibition of prolactin release. Ectopic (non-pituitary) production of prolactin may also occur. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch36, pp77-8) Prolactin Hypersecretion Syndrome,Prolactin, Inappropriate Secretion,Hyperprolactinaemia,Inappropriate Prolactin Secretion,Inappropriate Prolactin Secretion Syndrome,Hyperprolactinemias,Hypersecretion Syndrome, Prolactin,Inappropriate Secretion Prolactin,Prolactin Secretion, Inappropriate,Secretion Prolactin, Inappropriate,Secretion, Inappropriate Prolactin,Syndrome, Prolactin Hypersecretion
D011388 Prolactin A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate. Lactogenic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropin,PRL (Prolactin),Hormone, Pituitary Lactogenic,Hormone, Pituitary Mammotropic,Pituitary Lactogenic Hormone,Pituitary Mammotropic Hormone
D004347 Drug Interactions The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001523 Mental Disorders Psychiatric illness or diseases manifested by breakdowns in the adaptational process expressed primarily as abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior producing either distress or impairment of function. Mental Illness,Psychiatric Diseases,Psychiatric Disorders,Psychiatric Illness,Behavior Disorders,Diagnosis, Psychiatric,Mental Disorders, Severe,Psychiatric Diagnosis,Illness, Mental,Mental Disorder,Mental Disorder, Severe,Mental Illnesses,Psychiatric Disease,Psychiatric Disorder,Psychiatric Illnesses,Severe Mental Disorder,Severe Mental Disorders
D014150 Antipsychotic Agents Agents that control agitated psychotic behavior, alleviate acute psychotic states, reduce psychotic symptoms, and exert a quieting effect. They are used in SCHIZOPHRENIA; senile dementia; transient psychosis following surgery; or MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION; etc. These drugs are often referred to as neuroleptics alluding to the tendency to produce neurological side effects, but not all antipsychotics are likely to produce such effects. Many of these drugs may also be effective against nausea, emesis, and pruritus. Antipsychotic,Antipsychotic Agent,Antipsychotic Drug,Antipsychotic Medication,Major Tranquilizer,Neuroleptic,Neuroleptic Agent,Neuroleptic Drug,Neuroleptics,Tranquilizing Agents, Major,Antipsychotic Drugs,Antipsychotic Effect,Antipsychotic Effects,Antipsychotics,Major Tranquilizers,Neuroleptic Agents,Neuroleptic Drugs,Tranquillizing Agents, Major,Agent, Antipsychotic,Agent, Neuroleptic,Drug, Antipsychotic,Drug, Neuroleptic,Effect, Antipsychotic,Major Tranquilizing Agents,Major Tranquillizing Agents,Medication, Antipsychotic,Tranquilizer, Major
D015175 Prolactinoma A pituitary adenoma which secretes PROLACTIN, leading to HYPERPROLACTINEMIA. Clinical manifestations include AMENORRHEA; GALACTORRHEA; IMPOTENCE; HEADACHE; visual disturbances; and CEREBROSPINAL FLUID RHINORRHEA. Adenoma, Prolactin-Secreting, Pituitary,PRL-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma,Pituitary Adenoma, Prolactin-Secreting,Lactotroph Adenoma,Macroprolactinoma,Microprolactinoma,Prolactin-Producing Pituitary Adenoma,Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma,Prolactinoma, Familial,Adenoma, Lactotroph,Adenomas, Lactotroph,Lactotroph Adenomas,Macroprolactinomas,Microprolactinomas,PRL Secreting Pituitary Adenoma,PRL-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas,Pituitary Adenoma, PRL-Secreting,Pituitary Adenoma, Prolactin Secreting,Pituitary Adenoma, Prolactin-Producing,Pituitary Adenomas, PRL-Secreting,Pituitary Adenomas, Prolactin-Producing,Pituitary Adenomas, Prolactin-Secreting,Prolactin Producing Pituitary Adenoma,Prolactin Secreting Pituitary Adenoma,Prolactin-Producing Pituitary Adenomas,Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas,Prolactinomas
D017448 Receptors, Dopamine D2 A subfamily of G-PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTORS that bind the neurotransmitter DOPAMINE and modulate its effects. D2-class receptor genes contain INTRONS, and the receptors inhibit ADENYLYL CYCLASES. Dopamine D2 Receptors,Dopamine-D2 Receptor,D2 Receptors, Dopamine,Dopamine D2 Receptor,Receptor, Dopamine-D2
D018491 Dopamine Agonists Drugs that bind to and activate dopamine receptors. Dopamine Receptor Agonists,Dopaminergic Agonists,Agonists, Dopamine Receptor,Agonists, Dopaminergic,Dopamine Agonist,Dopamine Receptor Agonist,Dopaminergic Agonist,Receptor Agonists, Dopamine,Agonist, Dopamine,Agonist, Dopamine Receptor,Agonist, Dopaminergic,Agonists, Dopamine,Receptor Agonist, Dopamine

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