The effect of propranolol, neuroleptics, and their combination on serum prolactin levels of schizophrenic patients

Serum prolactin levels were measured before and during treatment with propranolol, neuroleptic drugs, or a combinatin of propranolol and haloperidol in 24 chronic schizophrenic patients with acute exacerbations. Base line levels of prolactin were within our normal range. There was no difference in levels between males and females. In nine patients treated with propranolol, no significant difference between base line values and prolactin levels during treatment was observed. In 12 patients treated with neuroleptics there was a significant positive correlation between dose and serum prolactin. A significant increase in serum prolactin was also found in the three patients treated with both propranolol and haloperidol. The antipsychotic predictive criteria of the increase in serum prolactin levels from base line values as a response to anti-psychotic drug treatment is discussed.