Transient normoprolactinemic galactorrhea induced by fluoxetine

Hormonal side effects of antidepressants are infrequent. Galactorrhea is rarely reported among antidepressant related side effects. Antidepressants can directly stimu­late postsynaptic 5- Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors in the hypothalamus or indirectly inhibit the tuberoinfun­dibular dopaminergic neurons through 5-HT, which may increase prolactin levels and later cause galactorrhea. However, galactorrhea may develop despite normal pro­lactin levels during antidepressant treatment. We present a case of normoprolactinemic galactorrhea in a woman, related with fluoxetine treatment. This report highlights the presence of unidentified mechanisms of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor induced galactorrhea.