Fluoxetine‑Induced Normoprolactinemic Galactorrhea: A Case Report

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51338/rppsm.712

Keywords:

Fluoxetine/adverse effects, Galactorrhea/chemically induced

Abstract

Normoprolactinemic galactorrhea is a rare adverse effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, documented primarily in case reports. We report the case of a 32‑year‑old woman with borderline personality disorder and binge‑eating disorder who developed bilateral milky nipple discharge and breast engorgement after titration of fluoxetine to 80 mg/day. Laboratory workup, including serial serum prolactin measurements, yielded no significant abnormalities. Imaging studies – breast and pelvic ultrasonography and brain magnetic resonance imaging – excluded organic pathology. Dose reduction to 20 mg/day led to partial improvement, with discharge persisting upon routine breast compression, with resolution following full discontinuation of fluoxetine. Subsequent worsening of binge‑eating episodes warranted the introduction of bupropion 150 mg/day, with favourable response. The Naranjo Scale attributed probable causality to fluoxetine. This case contributes to the characterisation and pathophysiological discussion of normoprolactinemic galactorrhea induced by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Huang W, Molitch ME. Evaluation and management of galactorrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2012;85:1073-80.

Samperi I, Lithgow K, Karavitaki N. Hyperprolactinaemia. J Clin Med. 2019;8:2203. doi: 10.3390/jcm8122203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8122203

Glocker C, Grohmann R, Engel R, Seifert J, Bleich S, Stubner S, et al. Galactorrhea during antipsychotic treatment: results from AMSP, a drug surveillance program, between 1993 and 2015. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2021;271:1425-35. doi: 10.1007/s00406-021-01241-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-021-01241-3

Egberts AC, Meyboom RH, De Koning FH, Bakker A, Leufkens HG. Non-puerperal lactation associated with antidepressant drug use. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1997;44:277-81. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.1997.006 52.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.1997.00652.x

Lyons DJ, Ammari R, Hellyasz A, Broberger C. Serotonin and antidepressant SSRIs inhibit rat neuroendocrine dopamine neurons: parallel actions in the lactotrophic axis. J Neurosci. 2016;36:7392-406. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4061-15.2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4061-15.2016

Mondal S, Saha I, Das S, Ganguly A, Das D, Tripathi SK. A new logical insight and putative mechanism behind fluoxetine-induced amenorrhea, hyperprolactinaemia and galactorrhea in a case series. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2013;3:322-34. doi: 10.1177/2045125313490305 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125313490305

Canan F, Aydinoğlu Ü, Sinani G. Transient normoprolactinemic galactorrhea induced by fluoxetine. J Clin Exp Invest. 2013;4:105-6. doi: 10.5799/ahinjs.01.2013.01.0243 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5799/ahinjs.01.2013.01.0243

Polat A, Turan H, Cakir U. Late-onset normoprolactinemic galactorrhea associated with fluoxetine use: a case report. Bull Clin Psychopharmacol. 2014;24(3):265-7. doi: 10.5455/bcp.20140701043755 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5455/bcp.20140701043755

Adıgüzel S, Hamoda HM. SSRI-induced galactorrhea in adolescents. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2026;36:240-3. doi: 10.1177/10445463261436376 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10445463261436376

Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, Sandor P, Ruiz I, Roberts EA, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981;30:239-45. doi: 10.1038/clpt.1981.154 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1981.154

Melmed S, Casanueva FF, Hoffman AR, Kleinberg DL, Montori VM, Schlechte JA, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of hyperprolactinemia: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:273-88. doi: 10.1210/jc.2010-1692 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-1692

Arnold LM, McElroy SL, Hudson JI, Welge JA, Bennett AJ, Keck PE. A placebo-controlled, randomized trial of fluoxetine in the treatment of binge-eating disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63:1028-33. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v63n1113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.v63n1113

Stahl SM. Fundamentos de Psicofarmacologia de Stahl. 6a ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed Editora; 2018.

McElroy SL, Arnold LM, Shapira NA, Keck PE, Rosenthal NR, Karim MR, et al. Topiramate in the treatment of binge eating disorder associated with obesity: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160:255-61. doi: 10.1176/appi. ajp.160.2.255 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.160.2.255

Nickel MK, Nickel C, Kaplan P, Lahmann C, Mühlbacher M, Tritt K, et al. Treatment of aggression with topiramate in male borderline patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;57:495-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.11.044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.11.044

DeVane CL. Pharmacokinetics of the newer antidepressants: clinical relevance. Am J Med. 1994;97:135-235. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(94)90359-X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(94)90359-X

White MA, Grilo CM. Bupropion for overweight women with binge-eating disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74:400-6. doi: 10.4088/JCP.12m08071 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.12m08071

Hudson JI, McElroy SL, Ferreira-Cornwell MC, Radewonuk J, Gasior M. Efficacy of lisdexamfetamine in adults with moderate to severe binge-eating disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74:903-10. doi: 10.1001/ jampayschiatry.2017.1889 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.1889

McElroy SL, Hudson JI, Mitchell JE, Wilfley D, Ferreira-Cornwell MC, Gao J, et al. Efficacy and safety of lisdexamfetamine for treatment of adults with moderate to severe binge-eating disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72:235-46. doi: 10.1001/jampayschiatry.2014.2162 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.2162

Dittrich I, Philipsen A, Matthies S. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) revisited — a review-update on common grounds and subtle distinctions. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2021;8:22. doi: 10.1186/s40479-021-00162-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-021-00162-w

Ryan D, Sadek J. Risk and adversity factors in adult patients with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), binge eating disorder (BED), and borderline personality disorder (BPD): a naturalistic exploratory study. Brain Sci. 2023;13:669. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13040669 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13040669

Erdogan Akturk B, Erdogan Kaya A, Tamam L. From mental fatigue to binge eating: emotion dysregulation as a transdiagnostic bridge. Cogn Ther Res. 2026 (in press). doi: 10.1007/s10608-026-10753-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-026-10753-y

Coker F, Taylor D. Antidepressant-induced hyperprolactinaemia: incidence, mechanisms and management. CNS Drugs. 2010;24:563-74. doi: 10.2165/11533140- 000000000-00000 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/11533140-000000000-00000

Published

2026-10-17

How to Cite

Ortiga, R., & Lopes, E. (2026). Fluoxetine‑Induced Normoprolactinemic Galactorrhea: A Case Report. Revista Portuguesa De Psiquiatria E Saúde Mental. https://doi.org/10.51338/rppsm.712

Issue

Section

Case Report