---
title: Can extreme sleepiness around periods be linked to prolactin and a medication called metoclopramide?
description: In one woman, severe sleepiness tied to her menstrual periods continued even after her periods stopped with metoclopramide, and this sleepiness was linked to
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/elevated-serum-lh-and-androgens-in-affective-disorder-related-to-the-menstrual-1993/
---

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- Can extreme sleepiness around periods be linked to prolactin and a medication called metoclopramide?

Case report, 1993

# Can extreme sleepiness around periods be linked to prolactin and a medication called metoclopramide?

In one woman, severe sleepiness tied to her menstrual periods continued even after her periods stopped with metoclopramide, and this sleepiness was linked to high prolactin levels, but this is a single case and cannot tell us how common or treatable this is in general.

 Early or limited evidence

One 42-year-old woman with sleepiness linked to her menstrual periods

## What they did

This is a report of a single 42-year-old woman who had episodes of extreme sleepiness that occurred along with her menstrual periods. She was given metoclopramide, which stopped her periods.

## What they found

After her periods stopped, the sleepiness did not go away. Instead, it became shorter but happened more unpredictably. These sleepy episodes were linked to high levels of the hormone prolactin in her blood.

## What it means for you

This single case suggests that sleep problems around the menstrual cycle may sometimes be connected to prolactin levels rather than periods themselves, but because it is only one person's experience, it cannot show how common this is or confirm a general cause and effect.

42

Woman's age

## About the study

Original title Elevated serum LH and androgens in affective disorder related to the menstrual cycle: with reference to polycystic ovary syndrome Authors Matsunaga H, Sarai M Journal The Japanese journal of psychiatry and neurology Year 1993 Study design Case report Participants 36 What was tested Metoclopramide, which was used and stopped her menstrual periods Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.1993.tb01830.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.1993.tb01830.x)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Schizophrenia and psychosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-psychosis/)[Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-pcos/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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