Abilify and Milk Volume

[NICUlac]

Has anyone experienced delayed lactogenesis or decreased milk volume in patients on Abilify?

[NICUlac]

Thank you for your reply. This mom started on domperidone and now is pumping 2-3 oz at a time!

[admin-james]

Hi, thanks for your post.

There's not much in the medical literature about this, but it appears to be a real phenomenon. Some researchers believe that aripiprazole is a partial dopaminergic agonist which inhibits prolactin and suppresses lactation. This agonistic activity may be relevant only in the pituitary because these antipsychotics are generally regarded as ANTI-dopamine drugs. The studies cited at the bottom comment on this.

Please call us at the InfantRisk Center if this has not completely answered your question.*(806)352-2519

-James Abbey, MD

Mendhekar DN, Sunder KR, Andrade C. Aripiprazole use in pregnant schizoaffective woman. Bipolar Disord 2006;8:229-300.

Kane JM, Carson WH, Saha AR et al. Efficacy and safety of aripiprazole and haloperidol versus placebo in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 2002; 63: 763–771.

Potkin SG, Saha AR, Kujawa MJ, Carson WH, Ali M, Stock E, Stringfellow J, Ingenito G, Marder SR. Aripiprazole, an antipsychotic with a novel mechanism of action, and risperidone vs placebo in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003 Jul;60(7):681-90.