The effects of phenothiazines on endocrine function: I. Patients with inappropriate lactation and amenorrhoea.

The article presents a study which examines the effect of phenothiazines on the circulating levels of prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH). Subjects of the study were sixteen female psychiatric patients that developed inappropriate lactation and amenorrhea while receiving phenothiazines. Data concerning the patient's mental state, presence of extrapyramidal signs, occurrence of menstruation and severity of inappropriate lactation were recorded. The results showed that plasma prolactin was elevated in majority of the patients during phenothiazines treatment. In patients with amenorrhea, basal LH levels were variable, while estrogen and progesterone followed the normal pattern of menstrual cycle.