Anybody with high or low Prolactin levels

MEX29 · 10-26-2002, 01:55 AM

I was wondering if anybody has a high prolactin level and if so what has your Dr. given you to lower it? For the past few years my prolactin has been high the normal range is soppose to be at (25). I just found out mine is at (80) WOW. My doctor has put me on a pill call Dostinex to lower it. So now it is just a waiting game to see if this helps me to get my period and ovulate. For those of you that don't know this hormone tells your ovaries to produce the eggs/menstration. Since having PCOS I have became very inform about my body. If anyone has any information or experiences that they would like to share please do so. lots of love.

loofah · 10-26-2002, 10:44 AM

I used to have prolactin levels three times higher than the highest normal.

My Gyne put me on Bromocriptine and i haven't had a problem since

I still had really spaced apart AF and no ovulation tho

Bee · 10-26-2002, 12:40 PM

I used to have high prolactin. The levels in Finland are different so I'll show you how high mine were.

Normal <500 and mine were 663. I didn't ovulate and my breasts were sore and leaky.

After 2 failed cycles of Clomid, my Dr put me on Metformin and my hormones are within normal ranges now.

Prolactin is 351! Woohoo! I am also now ovulating for the 1st time in approx. 15 years. And no more pain or leakage!

I hope the Dostinex works for you. I was kind of concerned and was going to ask for Bromocriptine if they didn't go down.

HTH
Bee

jlucy · 10-26-2002, 11:37 PM

Mine were elevated though I don't know how high. I am on Parlodel. I don't know what it's done but I see my doctor in a couple of weeks.

MEX29 · 10-30-2002, 06:06 PM

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY! DID YOU KNOW THE GLAND THAT PRODUCES THE PROLACTIN IS REFERED TO THE MASTER GLAND OF HORMONES? sOMETIMES THIS IS THE CAUSE OF MANY OTHER DISFUCTIONS IN THE BODY. THE DOCTOR PUT MY ON DOSTINEX LAST WEEK TO LOWER MY LEVEL AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL IN TURN GIVE ME A PERIOD AND OVULATE. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

scouse · 10-31-2002, 10:09 PM

hi mex,

i've had hyper prolactain......was told i had a swelling on my pit gland.....was on bromocriptine...and also another drug...but i cant remember the name of it....anyway it did me no good and really messed with ur personality.....so thank God i was taken off it!!!.......then i was put on to dostinox/cabergoline.......u take one a week........my periods became more regular....and more painful....then i started with swellings and water retention........was taken off it because a side effect is odema......so my prolactin went sky high again........my health continued to worsen.......i was still swelling and having water retention......put back on 1 twice a wk...........

in the end i stopped taking them all together......

scouse

beautifuleyes · 11-01-2002, 12:54 AM

hi
The high prolactin may be caused by a prolactinoma - a benign tumour on the Pituitary. It can inhibit ovulation and cause breast discharge too.
I was on parlodel ie bromocriptine for 1.5 months for prolactin levels that were borderline high. Did not enjoy the side effects but they weren't too bad. Anyway it should be treated bcoz if the tumour gets too big it can lead to other problems and affect your sight.
check out

http://www.pituitary.org

ok take care.
luv

jlucy · 11-02-2002, 04:16 PM

I have a tumor on my pituitary which was discovered years ago. I've had MRIs periodically and it's been determined that it is small and has not grown so it's no big deal. My elevated prolactin levels are the first sign that it might actually be affecting me. Nobody ever seemed to notice this before. The parlodel made me really congested and dried out and gave me awful headaches at first. Now I feel no side effects. I'm also on spiro so I don't know which is doing what, but it's the first time in I don't know how long that I have periods without having to take Provera to make them come. Of course now they come all the time but at least they come.

angelaelser · 10-25-2009, 01:13 AM

I've had high prolactin levels for 20 years! Last test was 73. No brain tumors. 3 MRI's - each new doctor insisted. Finally got diagnosed with Hypothryoidism - even though all the females in my family have thyroid issues. No one picked it up. There is a link between hypothyroidism and high prolactin levels. Have your Dr. run the Anti-body tests on you - a complete thyroid panel is in order - ASAP. About 95% of Hypothryroid pts test positive for high levels of antibodies which are attacking the thyroid gland. I've been sick and doctoring for years - including a Breast Reduction in my 20's because of such high prolactin levels causing breast development. No one ever did the Antibody test. I had all the classic symptoms- fatigue, heavy mentral flow, weight gain, allergies, low mood, hair loss, headaches etc...

there is a lot of info on the web regarding thyroid - look into it. I feel amazing! And my flow is now normal - finally!!! Good luck.

guera_reyes · 11-14-2009, 06:33 AM

I had elevated prolactin levels at same time found out I was hypothyroidism and was having bad headachs daily! Doc put me on levothyroxine for thyroid she said sumotin bout my pituitary being enlarged and causing the prolactin levels to be high but after a month of being on levothyroxin thyroid and prolactin levels are normal and the headachs went away about 3 weeks after I started the med, I'm not sure if the thyroid has anything to do with it or not I just thought I'd tell u my story but I do know that a lot of ppl have trouble findin thyroid problems so talk to ur doc about it.

Tytteas · 11-14-2009, 09:38 PM

I don't know how much too high my level is... but, when I got blood samples taken my doctor said that the only hormon level that was too high was prolactin... but, I don't know if it was just a tiny bit too high or what :S because she just said it very casual and that she didn't know why... because it had something to do with breast feeding :S so that left me a bit confused but I didn't think more of it until I tried to google it today and, I'm thinking either I have a poor excuse of a doctor or my levels can't have been that high... but boy, it's just frustrating me... because I thought I was getting it all together and finally understanding what's wrong with me... but now it seems like it's all going in the opposite direction and now I can't comprehend what on earth that's wrong and right and how I should act :S yikes, what a frustration! But is having a high level of prolactin dangerous or? :S

froubaby · 11-19-2009, 11:31 PM

I received my results today for my Prolactin test to find I was at 38.3 (norm: 3-24). One year ago my result was at 17.? so within the year it has more than doubled. My doctor has me going for a MRI of the Pituitary Gland wwo contrast just to be sure. I guess I'll know soon enough if I have something bigger to worry about or not.

angelaelser · 11-20-2009, 02:45 PM

Hi,
I've had High (over 100's) prolactin levels since I was 20. Breast reduction at 21. 3 MRI 's with negative results. One cranky Endo even tried to put me on the Parkinsons medication "dostinex and 2 others". DON'T DO IT. There is NO data on the long-term effects on young healthy women. Parkinson's mostly effects older men who are ultimately terminal with this condition. Messing with your dopanie levels is NOT going to ultimately solve the issue of LOW THYROID. Get a complete Thyroid Panel done and look for the antibodies attacking the thryoid. It took me 25 years to finally get diagnosed with Low thyroid. It's genetic and passed on through the females. All my symptoms are abating with proper thyroid treatment:

I've lost 10 pounds in 4.5 months without dieting or exercising
My periods are now NORMAL - they were debilitating prior to thyroid tx
Constipation - gone
fatigue - gone
brain fog - gone
aches and pains (fibromyalga) - gone
low mood - gone (yeah - no more anti-depressants)
prolactin - finally down to low 50's
wrist pain - gone (carpel tunnel develops in hypo pts)
high colesterol - gone
low heart rate - gone
and there is more - too many to bore you with.

Do some research: there is plenty of data on the web about hypothroid issues. But most Docs don't know abut it yet. For the last 40years Docs have been looking at the TSH test to evaluate your for low thryoid. Well that test is great - but it only picks up really really sick people AND it MISSES the genetic aspect of Low Thyroid especially in younger patients. My TSH has always been normal. But when I finally begged the Dr. to do a COMPLETE THYROID PANEL including antibodies - and the test came back with the Anit-bodies for thyroid hormone ( the attack the thyroid and the thyroid hormone making it useless in the blood stream) She apologized to me an prescribed Thyroid medication.

In the end if your Mama had it - then you have it.
CBC – Complete Blood Count
CMP – Complete Metaboic Panel
Ferritin – Menstrating anemia
TPO – Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies
Thyroglobulin antibodies (Anti-TPO
Thyroid Panel (including FREE T4 & FREE T3) a must!
Vit D (Hypothroiders have a hard time mfg-ing this)
CRP ( mine was 38.9 - very high) I was clearly in crises
I hope that you find relief soon. I wish the internet was around when I was your age. I would have not suffered fo4 47 years.

Good luck!!! check out Dr Hotze's clinic in Houston. Tons of info and a great place to start. I haven't been but his website has tons of info. I've read his book and it's good too.

I also LOVED the book - Hypothroidism Type 2 by Mark Starr MD - he is in Arizona. Available on Amazon.

Lia75 · 11-21-2009, 03:16 PM

I had hyperprolactinoma, went for MRI found large tumor. I went brain operation in 1997 and I was 22,had 25 stiches and the scar remain..cannot take out all the tumor because doctor said it dangerous. I had weight gain extreme,mood swing,effect your sex drive,milk discharge even you not pregnant,anxiety..difficult sleeping at night,severe headache,had black flash for few sec..sometime but never faint and blur vison.My period totally stop after came only for a year only.After that went for beam radiation for few week.
I had to go another major operation in 2001..due to leakage from my nose, I had cough for many month even with cough mixture it won't go away and that cause meningitis.Luckly I was not in coma stage. The leakage that goes through my throat that cause cough.I had drip antibidote and remove balance tumour and it was done through my nose and they repaired the leakage back. the leakage was due to beam radiation.
I was given bromcriptine but switch because it doesn't work so I was given cabergoline 0.5mg tab(dostinex) 4tablets 2times per week. Again I had to do minor surgery because found lump at my breast and it turn it was pulse and doctor told me because of my hormone.
After 22yrs my period stop..it came back again,even it not regulary but it still ok...and my sex driive came back again

. Previous doctor forget to checked my thyroid and current doctor checked the thyroid test and it turn out I had under active thyroid..no wonder I cannot tolerate cold,weight gain,join pain and dry skin. I took thyroxine 75MG tab 1 tablet every morning.
I have to do MRI every 2 yrs,doctor told me my chances to have fully recovery is 0% because I had large pitutary tumor so my treatment is long life term..but I think positive about it. Now doctor suggest sleeve gastrectomy surgery..due to my weight,current weight is 150kg.
Sorry for the long list..this is experience I had gone through,pitutary tumor..not only it disturb your hormone..weight gain,mood swing,sex life..after surgery..I have poor memory..but still ok

It been 12yrs now.

angelaelser · 11-22-2009, 04:06 PM

Seriously! Before you let anyone operate-radiate-or prescribe any medications for you - get to the root of the problem. Often times, the tumors the doctors are so interested in removing are benign and resolve naturally when you are treated properly treated with Thyroid Homone. The thryroid hormone is the master hormone that supplies energy to EVERY cell in the body and with-out it other parts of the body become dis-eased or don't function properly. Like your ovaries, your pituitary, your wrists - carpel tunnel is a sypmtom of low thyroid function. But most Docs only test for TSH with thryoid. THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT TEST for Hashimotos Thyroiditis. Insist on having a COMPLETE thyroid panel with the Anti-bodies tests and FREE t3 and FREE t4 and Re-uptake of T3 also.

Once properly diagnosed - especially if any females in your family history are currently being treated or were in the past - there is a very strong possibility that all your medical problems may be thyroid related. Your other medical problems may clear up with proper medical care. Mine did. I'm now only on one very inexpensive drug - thyroid hormone. about $8 per month. Feel FAB!

Good luck everyone. Read Mark Starr's book on thyroid. You can get it from Amazon.