Which medication is commonly prescribed to treat hyperprolactinemia?

Cabergoline is commonly prescribed to treat hyperprolactinemia because it is a dopamine agonist that works by stimulating dopamine receptors in the pituitary gland. This stimulation inhibits the secretion of prolactin, thereby reducing elevated levels of this hormone in the bloodstream. Hyperprolactinemia can lead to various symptoms such as infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, and galactorrhea, and cabergoline helps to alleviate these symptoms by normalizing prolactin levels.

In contrast, lanreotide, while used for other endocrine disorders, primarily acts as a somatostatin analogue and is not effective for managing elevated prolactin levels. Follitropin is a form of follicle-stimulating hormone and is used in fertility treatments, particularly for stimulating ovarian function, but it does not address prolactin levels. Oxytocin, known for its role in childbirth and lactation, does not have a role in reducing hyperprolactinemia. Thus, cabergoline is the medication of choice for this condition due to its specific action on dopamine receptors related to prolactin secretion.