Hyperprolactinaemia and verapamil: prevalence and potential association with hypogonadism in men

Abstract

The prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia associated with verapamil use in this study of male out-patients was 8.5% (95% CI 5.9-11.1%). The persistence of hyperprolactinaemia when verapamil was continued (Group 1) and the return to normal PRL levels when verapamil was discontinued (Group 2) confirm verapamil's causal role in the development of hyperprolactinaemia. While low testosterone levels were common in both groups, testosterone levels were lower in patients on verapamil. Our data suggest that screening for hyperprolactinaemia should be considered in male patients taking verapamil.

Drugs and prolactin

“…Patients have been described with galactorrhea associated with hyperprolactinemia from verapamil use [84,85]. In one survey, PRL levels were found to be elevated in 8.5% of patients taking verapamil in an outpatient clinic [86] and the hyperprolactinemia was associated with lower testosterone levels. Verapamil is thought to cause hyperprolactinemia by blocking the hypothalamic generation of dopamine [82,83].…”

National consensus on the management of patients with hyperprolactinemia (2016)

“…Нейролептики/ антипсихотичні препарати можуть викликати ГП у 40-90% пацієнтів у зв'язку з антагоністичним ефектом дофаміну на такий тип ліків [26]. Верапаміл є причиною ГП у 8,5% пацієн-тів, а в жінок, що застосовують комбіновані оральні контра-цептиви, можуть виявитися злегка підвищені рівні сироват-кового пролактину -від 12 до 30% випадків [27,28].…”

Drug induced hyperprolactinemia

“…In an outpatient clinic survey among patients taking verapamil, 8.5% patients reported having a high prolactin level (26). However, the other calcium channel blockers do not seem to have an effect on prolactin secretion (27).…”