Use of bromocriptine to prevent puerperal lactation during neuroleptic treatment of chronic schizophrenia.

Bromocriptine, the ergotamine alkaloid 2-bromo-alpha-ergocriptine, is known as a dopamine D-2 receptor agonist with strong prolactin-lowering actions and potential mental side-effects. The case reported here involves a female chronic schizophrenic patient in childbed who was treated both with neuroleptics and with bromocriptine; the latter was given in order to prevent inappropriate puerperal lactation. The described therapeutic regimen succeeded in preventing puerperal lactation without exacerbating schizophrenic symptoms. The simultaneous use of neuroleptics and bromocriptine was accompanied by monitoring for changes in mental status and plasma prolactin level. The high prolactin plasma levels that persisted in spite of treatment with bromocriptine would seem to be a reason to carry out further research into the mechanism of action of the drug.