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. 1974 May 25;2(5916):419–422. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5916.419

Long-term Treatment of Galactorrhoea and Hypogonadism with Bromocriptine

M O Thorner, A S McNeilly, C Hagan, G M Besser
PMCID: PMC1610452  PMID: 4600593

Abstract

Seventeen women and four men with galactorrhoea and associated hypogonadism have been treated with bromocriptine for 2 to 28 months. In 18 patients the gonadal status became normal as the galactorrhoea improved. The gonadally unresponsive patients had either pituitary tumours or premature menopause. Prolactin levels fell with treatment; withdrawal of the drug was associated with an increase in serum prolactin and a recurrence of the galactorrhoea and hypogonadism. Two patients tried to become pregnant on treatment and both succeeded. Raised prolactin levels appear to block the actions of the gonadotrophins at a gonadal level rather than prevent their synthesis or release; lowering prolactin secretion with bromocriptine allows resumption of normal gonadal function. Bromocriptine appears to be the treatment of choice for inappropriate lactation in association with hypogonadism on a long-term basis.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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