Can anti-depressants cause problems with the pituitary gland?

[FoggyMoggy]

I have heard that they can and make people produce more prolactin.

[Clutter]

FFZ, some anti-sickness medicines, anti-psychotics and SSRI anti-depressants can increase prolactin. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a non-SSRI antidepressant if you are affected this way.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Clutter]

OK, thanks. I'm not sure if my prolactin is raised or not as I've not had it tested. I only know that my T3 is low as is my TSH and that I am on an SSRI anti-depressant whose known side-effects can be raised prolactin I think

[Clutter in reply to FoggyMoggy]

FFZ, I was on 200mccg Sertraline but wasn't aware of prolactin issues, ie I didn't produce milk.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Clutter]

You don't have to produce milk to have raised prolactin

[Clutter in reply to FoggyMoggy]

FFZ, If you experience side effects that are as bad or worse than the illness being treated ask your GP to switch you to another medication.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Clutter]

The benefits have outweighed the side-effects. I have tried other anti-d-pressants but they weren't as effective. I am jumping the gun because I don't know that I have raised prolactin yet

[Clutter in reply to FoggyMoggy]

FFZ, Hopefully it won't happen The PIL usually advises whether the likelihood is one in a thousand, 1 in 10,000 etc.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Clutter]

Yes that's true. I try not to look at the list of side-effects otherwise I wouldn't take anything! It took me several years to take a low dose of a/depressants in the first place

[Clutter in reply to FoggyMoggy]

FFZ, I read the PIL mainly to check contraindications with other meds/supplements but 10 mins later will have forgotten everything I read.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Clutter]

Same here!

[Gsp177 in reply to Clutter]

I'm on 100mcg daily and I've looked into this, there is evidence on the net. When my Prolactin came back raised I also mentioned this to the Endocrinologist and he said it can have an effect on levels. Worth noting I'm male and that my Prolactin levels were fine before I started on Sertraline. Whether that's a coincidence will see tomorrow when I have my MRI.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to FoggyMoggy]

Low T3 causes depression. Taking T3 fixed mine.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I'm not depressed. Take anti-depressants for anxiety

[Gsp177]

I would say firstly have the doctors ruled everything out first, far too many dish Anti Depressants out like smarties IMO, rather than get to the route cause of the illness. I think some Doctors prescribe them to cover up their failure of reaching a diagnosis, far easier and cheaper to dish anti depressants out that thoroughly check the patients health. More often than not there is an a underlying problem which fails to get diagnosed. Having said that they do have a place and they've helped me to a certain degree, but I've always thought I've had something underlying.

What is it they say a healthy body is a healthy mind!

I'm male and my prolactin is raised above the range and my Cortisol morning level is significantly above range and I'm on Sertraline, bit like a sticking plaster rather than getting to the bottom of things. Anyway that combined with my low/Normal Free T4 and TSH has lead me to getting an MRI of the Pituitary, which I'm having tomorrow. I've been unwell for most of my life and always been fobbed off. I'm really hoping it shows something up, not that I want to be ill, just I want to get down to the bottom of it all.

With regards to side effects they list everything but the kitchen sink on there to cover themselves.

[Clutter in reply to Gsp177]

Good luck with the MRI tomorrow, GSP.

[Gsp177 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks, much appreciated.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Gsp177]

Good luck with your MRI, Gsp. I am thinking along the same lines because a friend of mine had problems with her pituitary and I my TSH, and T4 are low and my T3 very low so need to go back to my GP to discuss with her.

Re anti-depressants, she knows how reluctant I am to take meds and I resisted them for years but I have had anxiety and phobias all my life. I took tranx in my twenties but only occasionally and still do, that's why my GP is ok prescribing them to me because of this. But the anti-depressants really helped with anxiety, so I will knock them for that. Anxiety related conditions are miserable but as you say they could be connected to my thyroid, I am not ruling that out as I think that all conditions are ultimately physical.

[Gsp177]

Many Thanks, have had it, going to have to wait for the results though. I asked if I could have a copy of the images but apparently I have to go through the Endocrinologist and he's away on holiday at the moment. My next appointment to see him is 11th August, seems ages away, it's taken years to get this far, just want to know if it's showed anything up, suppose few more weeks won't make much difference.

Feeling a bit spaced out at the moment haha, imagine that's the contrast in my system.

FFZ hope you're better soon and find the cause, well worth going down that line of the pituitary.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Gsp177]

Many thanks Gsp and best of luck with your results (when you eventually get them!)

[Charls15 in reply to Gsp177]

Did you ever get the results? I know this is an old post but I’m very interested. I hope you are well.