Content

• Steps

Prolactin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, which is responsible for stimulating growth and regulating metabolism. Both men and women produce prolactin, and if levels are too high, this hormone can lead to problems such as decreased libido, low menstrual periods or stopping menstruation. There are many factors that can increase prolactin levels, including certain prescription medications, benign tumors, and hypothyroidism, so it's important to see your doctor for a diagnosis.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Change prescription medications

1. 

   Check out the prescription medication you are currently using. Some prescription drugs can increase prolactin levels. If you are taking one of these medications, it may be the cause of your prolactin levels.
   • Dopamine, a chemical in the brain, may help to partially suppress prolactin production. When you use drugs that inhibit or lower dopamine levels, prolactin levels can rise.
   • Certain antipsychotics can cause this effect, such as risperidone, molindone, trifluoperazine and haloperidol, as well as some antidepressants. Metoclopramide, which is prescribed for severe nausea and gastroesophageal reflux, can also increase prolactin secretion.
   • Several high blood pressure medications can also be the culprit, although less common, including reserpine, verapamil, and alpha-methyldopa.

2. 

   
   
   Talk to your doctor about stopping medication or taking an alternative medicine. You should not stop taking medications suddenly, especially antipsychotics, because of the risk of a severe withdrawal syndrome. Therefore, if you want to stop taking one of these medications, talk to your doctor first.
   • Your doctor may also change you to another drug that is not causing this effect.

3. 

   
   
   Ask your doctor about using aripiprazole, which is an antipsychotic. This drug has been shown to be effective in reducing prolactin levels when used as an alternative to other antipsychotic medications. Ask your doctor if this medication is right for you.
   • Antipsychotics are capable of increasing prolactin because it inhibits dopamine, causing prolactin secreted from the pituitary to rise. When taking long-term antipsychotics, you may develop a tolerance threshold, so your prolactin levels will return to normal, but in some cases they will still be higher than normal.
   • The drug can cause side effects such as dizziness, anxiety, headache, stomach problems, weight gain, and joint pain.It can also make you feel unsteady.
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Method 2 of 4: See a doctor

1. 

   
   
   Prepare a blood test to check for prolactin levels. If your prolactin level is suspected to be too high, your doctor will need to check it. The best way is to take a blood sample for testing. Your doctor will usually order a fasting blood test, which means you must not eat for 8 hours before the blood is drawn.
   • Your doctor may also order a blood test if you have the following symptoms: irregular periods or no periods, infertility, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and engorgement.
   • Average concentrations in non-pregnant women range from 5 to 40 ng / dL (106 to 850 mIU / L), and in pregnant women it is between 80 and 400 ng / dL (1,700 to 8,500 mIU). / L).
   • In men, the average would be less than 20 ng / dL (425 mIU / L).
   • Your doctor may do other blood tests to make sure you don't have conditions like kidney disease or other problems that cause prolactin levels to rise.

2. 

   Tell your doctor if you have recently injured your chest. A chest injury can cause a temporary increase in prolactin levels, so let your doctor know if you have had any chest injuries within the past few weeks. A shingles rash or rash in the chest may also cause this symptom.
   • Usually, prolactin levels return to normal on their own after you've recovered from your chest injury.

3. 

   Requires check for hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. If you have this disease, prolactin levels can rise. Your doctor will order a blood test to diagnose the condition.
   • Usually, if you notice that your prolactin levels are elevated, your doctor will check for this, but you can just ask your doctor.
   • Hypothyroidism is usually treated with the drug levothyroxine.

4. 

   Ask if vitamin B6 injections are right for you. Just one dose of vitamin B6 may be sufficient to lower prolactin levels, especially if the condition is temporary. However, it is best to either intravenously or intramuscularly, so talk to your doctor.
   • A typical dose is 300 milligrams. The health-care worker will usually inject the medication into a large muscle (such as the thigh or buttocks) or insert a needle into a vein to administer the medication.
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Method 3 of 4: Apply home remedies

1. 

   Consider taking 5g of ashwagandha root powder (Indian ginseng) per day. This type of supplement, also known as Withania somnifera, can help reduce prolactin levels. In fact, it also works to improve fertility in men and increase libido in men and women.
   • You should consult your doctor before starting any supplements.
   • You may experience side effects such as nausea, stomach problems or headaches while taking this medicine.

2. 

   Get 300 milligrams of vitamin E per day. Just increasing vitamin E can reduce your prolactin levels, especially if the levels are high. It can prevent the pituitary from overproducing prolactin.
   • Talk to your doctor before you start taking supplements if you have problems such as kidney disease or are on dialysis treatment.
   • Vitamin E usually does not cause side effects. However, if taken in high doses, you may experience stomach problems, fatigue, weakness, rash, headache, blurred vision, increased levels of creatine in the urine and dysfunction of the gonads. (testicular).

3. 

   Increase your zinc intake with supplements. Zinc supplements may also help lower prolactin levels. Try starting with 25 milligrams per day and go up to 40 milligrams per day if needed. You should have your prolactin levels checked again to see if you need to increase the dose.
   • Ask your doctor about the right dosage for dietary supplements like zinc.
   • Side effects include headache, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
   • If you take more than 40 milligrams per day for a long time, the medicine can cause a copper deficiency. In addition, you should also avoid medications through the nose, as it can cause loss of smell.

4. 

   Sleep get enough sleep 7-8 hours per night. Lack of sleep can put the body off balance, including the production of hormones like prolactin. Go to bed at a reasonable time to have a good night's sleep. Sleep alone can help lower prolactin levels. advertisement

Method 4 of 4: Treatment of prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma

1. 

   Recognize the symptoms of prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma. This is a type of tumor located in the pituitary gland. In most cases, the tumor is benign and does not cause cancer. However, it can cause prolactin levels to rise.
   • In women, symptoms usually change the menstrual cycle, reduce libido and reduce lactation if you are breast-feeding. In men and women who do not have periods, it is harder to diagnose, but you may have low libido (due to decreased testosterone). Men can also develop large breasts.
   • If the tumor is not treated, you may experience premature aging, headaches, and even loss of vision.

2. 

   Take cabergoline pills to treat tumors. This is the drug your doctor will choose first, as it has the least side effects and you only need to take it twice a week. The drug works to shrink benign tumors and lower prolactin levels.
   • The drug may cause nausea and dizziness.
   • Another typical drug, bromocriptine, can also cause nausea and dizziness. With this drug, your doctor may increase the dosage gradually to minimize side effects. This drug is cheaper, but you will have to take it 2-3 times a day.
   • You may need to take these indefinitely, but you can also stop taking them once the tumor has shrunk and your prolactin levels have decreased. However, you should not stop the drug suddenly, but follow your doctor's instructions about gradually reducing the dosage.

3. 

   Ask about surgery if the medications aren't working. The next treatment for this type of tumor is usually surgery. The surgeon will remove the tumor to prevent problems such as high prolactin levels.
   • If you have a different type of tumor in your pituitary instead of a prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor, this may be your first option.

4. 

   Talk to your doctor about whether radiation therapy is necessary. Radiation therapy is a common treatment for this type of tumor, whether benign or malignant. However, this method is less commonly used, and is often the last resort. Radiation therapy can also lead to the opposite problem, meaning that the pituitary is not producing enough hormones.
   • However, in some cases, radiotherapy may be the only option, if you do not respond to medications, and the surgical option is unsafe. Then, you may need this treatment.
   • Sometimes you only need one treatment, but there are tumors that require a combination of treatments. This depends on the size and type of the tumor.
   • The most common side effect is decreased pituitary function, in which the pituitary is not producing enough hormones. Very rare side effects include damage to nearby brain tissue, including damage to nerves.
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