Prolactinoma Support Group
A prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma are caused by too much prolactin in the blood or by pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Prolactin stimulates the breast to produce milk during pregnancy. After delivery of the baby, a mother's...
Ok, please someone tell me that depression and anxiety can be CAUSED BY ELEVATED PROLACTIN OR A PROLACTINOMA!
I asked my Endocrinologist point blank if all the depression and anxiety I've had for years before I was diagnosed with a prolactinoma could have been caused by the undiagnosed prolactinoma???
His answer? NO.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree. For years I struggled with horrible depression that turned into horrific panic attacks and had to go on all kinds of meds to "cure" them when no doctor ever though to check my hormone levels or anything! Not a single doctor! They just immediately put me on meds. When I finally started lactating and my periods stopped, THEN I got tested. Now I've been on Prozac and Buspar for almost 11 freaking years. Of course the Cabergoline has helped me, but now I'm stuck on these stupid other meds.
Can someone please tell me they know what I'm talking about?
I asked my Endocrinologist point blank if all the depression and anxiety I've had for years before I was diagnosed with a prolactinoma could have been caused by the undiagnosed prolactinoma???
His answer? NO.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree. For years I struggled with horrible depression that turned into horrific panic attacks and had to go on all kinds of meds to "cure" them when no doctor ever though to check my hormone levels or anything! Not a single doctor! They just immediately put me on meds. When I finally started lactating and my periods stopped, THEN I got tested. Now I've been on Prozac and Buspar for almost 11 freaking years. Of course the Cabergoline has helped me, but now I'm stuck on these stupid other meds.
Can someone please tell me they know what I'm talking about?
I got the same reaction from my endo. Causes both depression and anxiety (and weakness for me), long before I knew it was there.
The fact is we don't understand the human body yet. Common sense would say if you have an abnormal mass growing right by the centre of your brain linked to all the major parts of your body, that would affect you badly.
I'm now four months along from having it removed surgically and I'm finally coming back to myself!! People are so happy to see me back after all this time. I'm happy and strong and positive again. Hallelujah!!
I was finally diagnosed with prolactinoma at age 51 and really feel better on cabergoline. Much less anxious. When I try to wean off of Celexa I get hot flashes so I guess I'm stuck.
PS -- I told my endo Sunday that I had to buy smaller bras and she said she had never heard that!! OMG!! Of course they are going to shrink!
Prolactin and Dopamine both play against one another. If you lower the Dopamine level of an Endocrinally normal person (but one that suffers from a mental disorder requiring an anti-psychotic), you will soon see that with drugs like Risperdal...that the Dopamine level in the brain is reduced (to alleviate psychotic symptoms)...and, surely enough, the Prolactin level of this "normal" person will surely climb.
In the presence of Prolactin, the brain (located closest to the Pituitary) will be scoured of it's Dopamine...to some extent or another.
Dopamine is an "excitatory" neurotransmitter. With a lack of Dopamine...depression (and anxiety) are sure to follow. Dopamine and Serotonin also play together as well.