Increased prolactin reserve in alcoholics

The prolactin response to oral metoclopramide (10 mg) was investigated in 53 chronic alcoholics (26 with alcoholic cirrhosis and 27 without evidence of liver disease) from two to seven days after alcohol suspension. The response appeared significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls and was not related to the presence of liver disease. This finding may depend on the deactivation of the dopaminergic activities secondary to alcohol suspension; alternatively, ethanol could have a direct action on prolactin secretion.