HIRSUTISM   IN    A    WOMAN    ON  SULPIRIDE:  A  CASE  REPORT.

LEE LH, BADRIN S, IMRAN A.

Family Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kampus Kesihatan, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

ABSTRACT

Antipsychotic medications are used to manage psychosis, principally in schizophrenia. There are many side effects of antipsychotic medications including hyperprolactinemia. The common presentations of hyperprolactinemia in pre-menopausal woman are many but hirsutism is a rare presentation. We report a case of a 47-year-old Malay lady who was noticed to have hirsutism two years after changing to oral sulpiride. She was on oral sulpiride for 7 years. Diagnosis of hirsutism secondary to hyperprolactinemia, induced by antipsychotic medication was made after excluding other causes of hirsutism. It is important for all physicians to understand that antipsychotic medication causes hyperprolactinemia and can potentially induce hirsutism.

Keywords: Antipsychotic agents, Hirsutism, Hyperprolactinemia, Schizophrenia, Sulpiride.

Corresponding author: Dr Imran Ahmad, MMed, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kampus Kesihatan, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

Brunei Int Med J.2022;18:158-161