Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
07:35
Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
Published on: July 8, 2025
861
[Transient hyperprolactinemia secondary to benzodiazepines: a case report]
Lucie Blandin1, Marc Siffert2, Marina Brailova1
1Service de biochimie et génétique moléculaire, CHU Hôpital G Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Annales De Biologie Clinique
|June 25, 2020
Summary
Hyperprolactinemia, a common cause of secondary amenorrhea, can be induced by alprazolam. This case highlights the need for physicians to consider benzodiazepine use when diagnosing elevated prolactin levels.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hyperprolactinemia is a frequent cause of secondary amenorrhea, accounting for 20-25% of cases.
- Endocrinologists and expert consensus lists do not typically recognize benzodiazepines as hyperprolactinemia-inducing agents.
Observation:
- A 40-year-old patient presented with spaniomenorrhea and inguinal pain during a bartholinitis episode.
- Moderate hyperprolactinemia was observed, with other known causes ruled out.
- Alprazolam (a benzodiazepine) intake was identified as the likely cause.
Findings:
- This case report documents hyperprolactinemia associated with alprazolam use.
- Bibliographic studies and product characteristics mention this association, though it is not widely recognized by endocrinologists.
- Benzodiazepines are not commonly listed as drugs that induce hyperprolactinemia.
Implications:
- This finding increases awareness among prescribing physicians and biologists regarding potential hyperprolactinemia in patients using benzodiazepines.
- Given the widespread use of benzodiazepines in France, this association warrants consideration in clinical practice.
- Further investigation into the mechanism and prevalence of benzodiazepine-induced hyperprolactinemia may be beneficial.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines
611
Benzodiazepines have both sedative and hypnotic properties. They include compounds such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Structurally, their cores are similar, consisting of the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring, but they share a common mechanism of action in the central nervous system (CNS).
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
611
01:14CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines
1.0K
CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
1.0K
01:29Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone
2.1K
Benzodiazepines are a class of anxiolytic drugs known for their rapid efficacy and high therapeutic-to-lethal dose ratio, but with a potential risk of drug dependence. These drugs are lipophilic, allowing for rapid absorption after oral administration, eventually reaching the central nervous system (CNS). Once in the CNS, benzodiazepines bind to the allosteric site of the GABAA receptor. This binding enhances the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. By doing so, they prevent...
2.1K
01:26Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview
909
Anxiolytic drugs are vital in managing anxiety disorders by effectively alleviating symptoms such as excessive fear, tachycardia, and tremors. There are several classes of anxiolytic medications, each with unique mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic...
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic...
909
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
396
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
396
01:15REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
1.0K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
RBD is significantly associated with...
1.0K