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Rates of Hypoprolactinemia in Bipolar Patients Receiving Once-monthly Long-acting Injectable Aripiprazole
Fatma Simsek1,2
1Ministry of Health Bakırçay University Çiğli Regional Education Hospital, Department of Psychiatry,, Turkey, Çiğli İzmir.
Pharmacopsychiatry
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Long-acting injectable aripiprazole can cause hypoprolactinemia in bipolar disorder patients, affecting 52% overall. This condition, linked to metabolic and sexual issues, warrants prolactin level monitoring in patients on this treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hypoprolactinemia is linked to adverse sexual and metabolic effects.
- Oral aripiprazole is known to cause hypoprolactinemia.
- The impact of long-acting injectable aripiprazole on prolactin levels in bipolar disorder is not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and severity of hypoprolactinemia in bipolar disorder patients treated with 400 mg of once-monthly long-acting injectable aripiprazole.
Main Methods:
- Fifty patients with bipolar disorder (25 women, 25 men) receiving 400 mg of once-monthly long-acting injectable aripiprazole were enrolled.
- Patients received monotherapy or combination psychiatric treatment.
- Serum prolactin levels were measured.
Main Results:
- Hypoprolactinemia was observed in 52% of all participants.
- Prevalence was higher in men (68%) than women (36%).
- Significantly higher mean prolactin levels were found in women compared to men (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Once-monthly injectable aripiprazole is associated with a high rate of hypoprolactinemia in bipolar disorder patients.
- Monitoring prolactin levels is clinically relevant due to potential metabolic and sexual side effects of hypoprolactinemia.
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