Effect of clozapine on human serum prolactin levels

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Abstract
Serum prolactin levels were determined in 13 patients receiving clozapine, an antipsychotic drug that does not produce extrapyramidal side effects. Morning serum prolactin levels, 11 h after the last dose, were not elevated during chronic treatment with clozapine in any subject despite its therapeutic effects. Serum prolactin levels were moderately increased between 90 min and 4 h after administration of very high doses of oral clozapine in 4 patients but were smaller than those produced by chlorpromazine in other subjects. Clozapine may achieve its antipsychotic effect differently than do classical neuroleptics and sustained prolactin increases are not essential for antipsychotic action.