Question: For people with raised prolactin levels due to taking antipsychotic medication, what is the risk of developing breast cancer or any other long term physical health complication?

Answer:

No definite clinical implications can be made based on the available evidence. Two retrospective cohort studies were identified that addressed this BEST question, one of which suggested that their evidence should reassure physicians and patients that atypical antipsychotics do not increase the risk of breast cancer when compared to typical antipsychotics. The authors of the other trial, however, found a small, but significant increased risk of breast cancer with antipsychotic dopamine antagonist use. These findings led the authors to suggest that current treatment strategies need not be changed, but that the findings need to be confirmed in further rigorously conducted, adequately powered, studies.

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