The effect of two dopaminergic drugs on menstrual function and psychological state in hyperprolactinemia.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of dopaminergic drugs on the well being in hyperprolactinemic patients.

DESIGN

A psychometric test for well being, the SCL-90, was applied at baseline and in the 24th week of a double-blind randomized prospective study comparing the effectiveness and safety of the new dopamine d2 agonist CV 205-502 with bromocriptine.

SETTING

Outpatient department of a university clinic for obstetrics and gynecology.

PATIENTS

Twenty-four women with hyperprolactinemia, 9 of whom had a prolactinoma. Twenty had been treated before, and 11 were known to react unfavorably to bromocriptine.

RESULTS

The effectiveness of CV 205-502 was identical to bromocriptine: its tolerability appeared to be better, especially in the initial phase of treatment. At baseline, the mean scores of the SCL-90 were significantly elevated over the reference values. Sixteen patients had normal scores. The elevations were caused by 8 patients with scores in the range found in psychiatric disease (211 +/- 30 [SD] [CV 205-502] and 182 +/- 32 [bromocriptine]). They were depressed, anxious, and hostile. At 24 weeks, the patients treated with CV 205-502 scored better (130 +/- 23.5) in the SCL-90 than the patients treated with bromocriptine (149.5 +/- 20).

CONCLUSION

The markedly increased well being in patients treated with CV 205-502 cannot be explained by its better tolerability and is probably caused by a specific central activity of CV 205-502. Further research into the antidepressive properties of this compound is warranted.