High prolactin result

[Insomania]

I feel worried about this high prolactin result of 644.

I shared all my blood test results with my thyroid Dr at each review and he said I need to send this prolactin result to my GP.

I think these are my contributing factors to high prolactin:

-Hypothyroidism untreated for many years

-Chronic insomnia for 7 years

-low dose tricyclic for insomnia (Amitriptyline)

-Low cortisol

-iron deficiency anaemia

-Long term stress that comes with being a carer to three autistic children, pretty sure I have ADHD

-HRT for 3y resulting in high oestrogen, low progesterone. I’m currently switching to progesterone only to improve cycle symptoms.

-Histamine issues

-IBS symptoms which has improved a lot but is really bad during my period

That’s a lot to solve to try and get prolactin level down and some of it (stress, children) is not in my control.

Anyone can advise please on high prolactin?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

causes of high prolactin

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

[CreakingGate47]

Why did you have Prolactin tested? Any particular reason/symptoms?

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

It was in a Randox female hormones test, to check my oestrogen and progesterone.

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

it’s often caused by high cortisol. If you want to try a non pharmaceutical solution, l-theanine is a supplement which has a good safety profile, lowers cortisol and raises dopamine levels. In other words it acts as a dopamine agonist.

I can see that you have high stress levels, high BP?

verywellhealth.com/what-is-...

[humanbean]

These links might be of use :

gpnotebook.com/pages/surger...

royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/r...

The second link refers to treating prolactinomas with medication of a type called a dopamine agonist.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopam...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopam...

I would suggest you do a lot of research into dopamine agonists if you are offered them.

I've twice been given a dopamine antagonist (the opposite of an agonist) 20 years apart and the results were awful both times. The second time I had to be given an antidote I reacted so badly.

I've since read that agonists can have unpleasant side effects as well. The body doesn't react well to having its dopamine levels fiddled with. So be very wary.

[CreakingGate47 in reply to humanbean]

L Theanine is a supplement growing in popularity which is a dopamine agonist. Has a good safety profile.

[humanbean in reply to CreakingGate47]

Maybe it is just me that has problems with anything dopamine related.

I didn't know L-Theanine was a dopamine agonist. I did buy one bottle of an L-Theanine supplement quite a long time ago when I read it was good for insomnia and it gave me the headaches from hell, so I've never tried it again since.

[CreakingGate47 in reply to humanbean]

That’s interesting HB. The first few times I took it I felt great - then I too got vile headaches.

I put it down to the fact that when I last took it, I was (still am) taking Gabapentin. Apparently L-Theanine is a pre cursor of gaba.

Supplements do need a lot of investigation. They’re not licensed or regulated. Personal experience is probably the best recommendation

[CreakingGate47 in reply to humanbean]

mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/...

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

Ooh interesting, I’ll look into it. Thank you.

I take amino acids l-glutamine, l-cysteine and l-glutathione daily (as part of my thyroid supplements recommended by private Dr).

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

healthline.com/nutrition/ho...

These are the suggestions of how to increase dopamine naturally. I guess thes may work for some ……

Getting down to the grass roots, we’re trying to reduce cortisol. When in highly stressful long term situations as you are, this is easier said than done 😬

[Insomania in reply to humanbean]

Thank you for this info and links, I will be wary!

I’ve got every low dopamine symptom going. How can I improve dopamine without dopamine agonist?

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

Sadly, the only thing I can think of is benzodiazepines. Of course we all know that the chances of getting those prescribed are zero. That’s why I’m constantly looking for safe, non pharmaceutical alternatives.

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

Aren’t benzo’s that highly addictive drug? I’ll pass on that!

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

Very wise.

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

Do you have high prolactin too?

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

Never been tested - but I have low testosterone.

Apparently, when cortisol levels are high, testosterone production can be significantly affected. This is because cortisol and testosterone have an inverse relationship, meaning when one hormone is high, the other is typically low

Did you have testosterone tested?

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

Yes, I did! Testosterone was high.

I also had it tested by Superdrug in November 2024 (I was looking into supplementing it but didn’t go ahead) and it was 1, mid range.

Strange it went up so much. I don’t feel like it, that’s for sure!

Results

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

That’s shot my theory into pieces 😵‍💫

I think I’m going to stick to chocolate.

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

I have low cortisol and high testosterone.

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

Aah. So you haven’t got high cortisol? That now makes sense and fits with high testosterone. 😉

Problem is that low cortisol and high dopamine normally co-exist and, as you say, you seen to have all the symptoms of low dopamine 🤔

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

Have you had cortisol tested?

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

Yes, I do cortisol saliva testing annually to see if it’s getting any better.

I had an improvement this year on the morning test, it moved up from low into normal. Lunchtime and afternoon still low but that tracks with how I feel.

I wasn’t expecting much tbh because I’ve only been on a steady dose of NDT since January.

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

You said that your thyroid doctor wants you to let your GP know about your high prolactin levels. How helpful/knowledgeable is your GP?

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

Jury is still out on GP.

I picked the one who doesn’t offer me antidepressants for everything!

GP did listen and is being supportive of my request for progesterone therapy for PMSS symptoms (I read GP Dr Daltons book, v good).

I agreed to stop oestrogen patches, she prescribed cyclogest progesterone pessaries. But only 200mg for only 2w per month so I’m struggling for 2w with no hormone support.

Well I’m not, I’ve had to buy some oral progesterone to get through it. Which is helping.

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

Many years ago I too read Dr Dalton’s book and was prescribed Cyclogest Progesterone pessaries for PMS. Very unusual 40 years ago. I only had them for 2 wks a month. Think that’s in dosing instructions

As I entered perimenopause I transitioned to progesterone / oestrogen HRT.

Ask for FSH test to see where your hormones are in regard to Perimenopause

[Insomania in reply to CreakingGate47]

LDN affects dopamine but I have no knowledge or experience, I’ve heard about in relation to ME.

lascolinaspharmacy.com/lowd...

[CreakingGate47 in reply to Insomania]

Why is life so complicated 😩?

[Jazzw]

If it helps at all… that’s not massively elevated. Obviously it’s higher than usual but there can be lots of fairly “innocent” reasons for it. And they wouldn’t even begin to think about it being caused by a prolactinoma unless that result zoomed into the 1000s.

A one off prolactin level doesn’t tell you much at all, in fact. And prolactin levels are naturally higher first thing in the morning so they often advise to wait a few hours after rising before having it tested.

Have a look here: ruh.nhs.uk/pathology/docume...