Differential responses of plasma aldosterone, cortisol and adrenocorticotropin to two dopamine receptor antagonists.

The response of plasma aldosterone, cortisol and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) to the dopamine antagonists metoclopramide and domperidone, administered intravenously in a dose of 1 mg/kg, was investigated in healthy volunteers. Within 15 min after metoclopramide administration, plasma aldosterone (+ 99%), cortisol (+ 75%) and ACTH (+ 55%) increased (p less than 0.001), whereas the plasma levels of these hormones were not altered after domperidone. The differential responses of plasma aldosterone and cortisol to high doses of metoclopramide and domperidone are therefore, at least partially, mediated via the enhanced adrenal stimulation by ACTH after metoclopramide.