Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates growth and regulates metabolism. It is present in both men and women; if its levels are too high, it can cause problems, such as decreased libido and irregularity or interruption of the menstrual cycle. The causes of a high prolactin level could be different, including the use of some drugs, benign tumors and hypothyroidism, so it is best to get a diagnosis from a doctor.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Vary Medical Prescriptions
Step 1. Check the medications you are taking
Some medicines can raise the level of prolactin: if you are taking one of these medicines, it could be the cause of your problem.
- Dopamine, a chemical produced by the brain, inhibits the secretion of prolactin. If you are taking drugs that block or lower the dopamine level, you may have as a consequence a rise in those of prolactin.
- Some antipsychotics (such as risperidone, molindone, trifluoperazine and haloperidol), as well as some antidepressants, can have this effect. Metoclopramide, which is prescribed to treat severe nausea and acid reflux, can also increase prolactin secretion.
- Some medicines used to treat high blood pressure, including reserpine, verapamil and methyldopa, may also cause this effect, albeit less frequently.
Step 2. Talk to your doctor about stopping or changing your treatment
There is no need to suddenly stop taking a drug, especially if it is an antipsychotic, as the side effects can be serious. Therefore, if you wish to stop taking it, discuss it with your doctor first.
Your doctor may be able to replace the drug in question with one that doesn't have the same side effects
Step 3. Discuss the possibility of using aripiprazole as an antipsychotic medicine
It has been found that this drug is able to reduce the level of prolactin when taken instead of or in addition to other antipsychotics. Ask your doctor if he is right for you.
- Antipsychotics are able to raise the level of prolactin, as they inhibit the production of dopamine which, in turn, affects that of prolactin. In the case of long-term antipsychotic treatment, you may develop some tolerance to the drug in question, so the prolactin level may return to normal, but it may also be above normal.
- This type of drug can cause side effects such as dizziness, nervousness, headache, stomach problems, weight gain and joint pain, as well as balance disorders.
Method 2 of 4: Get a Medical Checkup
Step 1. Prepare to undergo blood tests to check your prolactin level
If there is a possibility that it is too high, the doctor will want to check it and the best way to do this is through blood tests. You will most likely be prescribed a fasting test, i.e. you will not have to eat during the previous 8 hours.
- Your doctor may order these tests if you have the following symptoms: irregular or absent menstrual cycles, infertility, erection problems, decreased libido and breast engorgement.
- In non-pregnant women, normal prolactin levels are between 5 and 40 ng / dL (106 to 850 mIU / L), while they range between 80 and 400 ng / dL (1,700 to 8,500 mIU / L) in pregnant women.
- Men typically have levels below 20 ng / dL (425 mIU / L).
- Your doctor may order other blood tests to make sure you don't have kidney disease or other problems that can cause your prolactin level to rise.
Step 2. Tell your doctor if you have recently suffered a chest injury
An injury like this can temporarily raise your prolactin level, so tell your doctor if you have had one in the previous weeks. Hives and herpes in this area of the body can also have this consequence.
Usually, after a chest injury, prolactin levels recover on their own
Step 3. Ask to be tested for hypothyroidism
This disorder occurs when the thyroid hormone is not produced sufficiently and, consequently, the level of prolactin rises. Your doctor will order blood tests to check for this condition.
- Usually, the doctor usually proceeds to check for this type of disorder if the prolactin level is high, but it costs nothing to ask.
- This disorder is usually treated with medicines such as levothyroxine.
Step 4. Discuss the possibility of getting a vitamin B6 injection
A single dose of this vitamin may be sufficient to lower the prolactin level, especially if it is a temporary rise. However, it is better if the administration is intravenous or intramuscular, so discuss with your doctor.
A normal dose of vitamin B6 is 300 mg. Medical staff will likely inject the drug into a large muscle (such as the thigh or buttock) or insert a needle into a vein
Method 3 of 4: Try Home Remedies
Step 1. Consider taking 5g of ashwagandha root per day
This supplement, also known as Withania somnifera, can help lower the level of prolactin; in addition, it can also increase male fertility and libido in both men and women.
- Discuss with your doctor before you start taking any supplements.
- You may experience nausea, stomach problems or headaches after taking this remedy.
Step 2. Add 300 mg of Vitamin E to your daily intake
Even just increasing the intake of this vitamin can lower the prolactin level, especially when it is high, as it can limit its secretion by the pituitary gland.
- Talk to your doctor before taking a supplement if you have a kidney disorder or are on hemodialysis.
- Normally, there are no side effects from taking vitamin E. However, if it is taken in large doses, stomach problems, fatigue, weakness, rash, headache, blurred vision, increased creatine in urine may occur. and dysfunction of the gonads (testes).
Step 3. Increase your zinc intake with a supplement
It could help decrease the prolactin level. Try 25 mg per day and increase the dose as needed up to 40 mg, then check again to see if it is necessary to increase the intake again.
- Ask your doctor what the required dose of zinc to take.
- Among the side effects of zinc intake are headache, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
- If you take more than 40 mg per day for a long time, you may be suffering from a copper deficiency. Also, avoid taking it intranasally (i.e. through the nose), as it could cause loss of smell.
Step 4. Get a good 7-8 hour sleep
Lack of sleep can unbalance the body, as well as the production of hormones such as prolactin. Go to sleep at a decent time so you can rest all night and remember that sleeping alone can help reduce prolactin levels.
Method 4 of 4: Treating a Prolactinoma
Step 1. Look for the symptoms of a prolactinoma
It is a type of tumor of the pituitary gland which, in most cases, is benign, not cancerous, but which is capable of greatly increasing the levels of prolactin in the body.
- In women, the most typical symptoms are: changes in the menstrual cycle, decreased libido and decreased milk supply during the breastfeeding period. In men and women who do not have a menstrual cycle it is more difficult to diagnose, but it is possible to notice a decrease in libido due to the lowering of the testosterone level, as well as the growth of the breasts.
- If the cancer is not kept under control, symptoms such as premature aging, headaches or even loss of vision may be encountered.
Step 2. Take cabergoline to treat cancer
This drug is the first that is prescribed by doctors, as it has the fewest side effects and only needs to be taken twice a week. Its intake will result in the shrinkage of the tumor mass and a lowering of prolactin levels.
- Cabergoline can cause nausea and dizziness.
- Another typical medicine is bromocriptine, which can likewise cause nausea and dizziness. For this type of medicine, your doctor will most likely prescribe a gradual increase in the dose to reduce side effects. It is less expensive than the other, but must be taken 2-3 times a day.
- You may need to take such medications indefinitely, although it may be possible to stop once the tumor mass has shrunk and prolactin levels have decreased. However, there is no need to suddenly stop taking these drugs, so follow your doctor's instructions for a gradual reduction in doses.
Step 3. Request to undergo an operation in case the drugs do not take effect
When medications do not have the desired effect, the procedure that is considered for this type of cancer is usually surgery. The surgeon will operate from the inside to remove the tumor, so that it no longer causes problems such as increased prolactin levels.
If you have a type of pituitary gland tumor other than prolactinoma, surgical removal may be your doctor's first treatment option
Step 4. Discuss the need for radiotherapy with your doctor
In the past, this therapy was a typical treatment for this type of tumor, both benign and malignant, however it is now less common and is often the last option. It can lead to the opposite problem, which is that the pituitary gland is unable to secrete enough hormones.
- Nonetheless, radiotherapy may be the only possible option in the event that the patient does not respond to drug treatment and the tumor cannot be safely removed. If this is your case, you may need this type of treatment.
- In some cases, only one type of therapy may be sufficient, while in others more than one may be necessary, depending on the size and type of tumor.
- The most common side effect of this therapy is hypopituitarism, or the inability of the pituitary gland to secrete enough hormones. Other very rare side effects include damage to neighboring brain tissue, including injury to the nervous system.
