Skip to content

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

Topics