Amoxapine elevates serum prolactin in depressed men

Abstract

It has been suggested that the antidepressant amoxapine might have neuroleptic properties. Clinically, an increase in serum prolactin occurs during neuroleptic treatment secondary to post-synaptic dopamine blockade. Ten men who met DSM-III criteria for major depression exhibited a significant increase in their serum prolactin over drug-free baseline values during treatment with amoxapine. A comparison group of 12 depressed men treated with desipramine showed no such increase. Combined with that of others, our study suggests that amoxapine might have antipsychotic properties and, therefore, be useful in treating conditions where a combined antidepressant and neuroleptic effect is required.