Galactorrhea and Antipsychotic Agents

Abstract

To the Editor.— In reading LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (234:913, 1975), I was most surprised at the comments of Drs Masco and Leis concerning galactorrhea and antipsychotic agents. The wish of a physician to avoid galactorrhea in a patient requiring an antipsychotic agent is perfectly reasonable from the clinical point of view. The sudden onset of galactorrhea in a psychotic patient can add appreciably to that patient's anxiety and confusion; it may cause a significant alteration of the patient's fantasy life and body image. It is therefore reasonable to avoid the symptom if possible. Frequently, galactorrhea develops in response to a specific neuroleptic or family of neuroleptics. Thus, the symptom can often be avoided by simply switching to a different family of neuroleptic drugs. Cessation of galactorrhea therapy while maintaining a therapeutic dosage of the antipsychotic medication is more desirable than reassuring the patient with the galactorrhea or discontinuing use of