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...
I started bromocriptine January 14th and I have follow up blood work and appointment with endo in March and I want to be prepared with questions, etc based on what I've experienced with possible side effects from the meds:
* I take the medicine at night with a meal and first few weeks felt dizzy in the morning. This has leveled off.
* I put on a few pounds in the first week and have not been able to lose the extra pounds.
* My blood pressure is lower than normal. Most time it's around mid 90s over mid to low 60s. Occassionally, it dropped below 90/60. Prior to meds it was closer to the normal range.
* First two weeks I was miserably tired until I could work out and would feel 100% better and had some really good training runs.
* Moodiness with waves of emotions
* I periodically feel nauseous after eating.
* Feel like I struggle staying hydrated
* This week I have felt very sleepy and very foggy headed. I'm having a real hard time concentrating & staying focused at work. I've not been able to motivate myself to workout. I'm starting to feel sluggish climbing stairs (note, I train for marathons & triathlons... this is not normal).
Now what I've found interesting is that about a week ago, I felt like I was experiencing improvements in how I feel until this week and kind of feels like I'm back to week one with the exception of I can't motivated myself to workout now. Another note, I also take thyroid medication for hypothyroidism.
* I take the medicine at night with a meal and first few weeks felt dizzy in the morning. This has leveled off.
* I put on a few pounds in the first week and have not been able to lose the extra pounds.
* My blood pressure is lower than normal. Most time it's around mid 90s over mid to low 60s. Occassionally, it dropped below 90/60. Prior to meds it was closer to the normal range.
* First two weeks I was miserably tired until I could work out and would feel 100% better and had some really good training runs.
* Moodiness with waves of emotions
* I periodically feel nauseous after eating.
* Feel like I struggle staying hydrated
* This week I have felt very sleepy and very foggy headed. I'm having a real hard time concentrating & staying focused at work. I've not been able to motivate myself to workout. I'm starting to feel sluggish climbing stairs (note, I train for marathons & triathlons... this is not normal).
Now what I've found interesting is that about a week ago, I felt like I was experiencing improvements in how I feel until this week and kind of feels like I'm back to week one with the exception of I can't motivated myself to workout now. Another note, I also take thyroid medication for hypothyroidism.
Thanks for you reply to my post.
I started my medication over the weekend and so far all i've had was dizziness .
May i ask what dosage you on. My doc started me on a very low dose 1.25mg daily, next week i have to take 2.5mg.
--totally struggle to stay hydrated. Always wake up soooo thirsty & can't seem to ever get enough water
--definitely nauseous after eating
--moodiness (but I've always had that)
--completely unmotivated to do anything (let alone working out). I used to be pretty active & can't even get myself off the couch now.
--very sluggish & foggy brained
--dizzy spells especially when moving around too fast or standing up.
I'm on my 3rd week of cabergoline but the 2 drugs are very similar so the side effect profile is the same. Everything you are saying sounds just like what I'm going through. Hopefully it's only temporary & we'll be back to normal in no time. At least that's what I'm hearing on here!! Good luck!
Hi pharmgirl24 - thanks for your reply. I hadn't found anyone report hydration as an issue yet so it's comforting to hear that I'm not the only one. I've added gatorade to my diet and that does seem to help with the thirst feeling more so than just drinking plain water.
I'm surprised I haven't seen more posts about the hydration issue either. I noticed it right away. I've always been a relatively light sleeper & usually have to get up to pee in the middle of the night, but since starting cabergoline I get up like 3 or 4 times! So, I think I'm just losing so much water that I can't stay hydrated. And I don't want to drink too much in the evening because I'd be up all night! I'm still guilty of having my regular cup of coffee in the morning but I've cut out alcohol (also a diuretic) & increased my water intake. Yet I'm thirsty all the time! It's like I can never get enough. I wake up and I'm dying for a glass of water. Weird.
Also the sluggishness that you mention is a problem I'm having too. I'm no marathoner or triathlete (although I do bike & did a relay triathlon with some friends in october....maybe that counts) & being tired is not something I'm used to. I know that working out gives me so much energy & I'm not even able to get myself to make any effort (just like you). I'm so tired all the time & can't find any motivation to do anything! It's a struggle just to get out of the house to do little things, let alone work out.
I'm hoping it will pass soon because my butt is beginning to leave a permanent impression on my couch & I'm not happy about that. ;)
Maybe I'll try today. All this talk about it makes me want to give it a go & see what happens. Wish me luck!
I have had my prolactinoma for over 15 years. I have always had problems with hydration. But, because you have a hypothyroid be sure and tell your Endo if you have to use the restroom more then 8 times a day. (my son has a hypothyroid) It could be a sign of other thing going on.
I never did adjust to the bromo so we changed to the cabergoline it still had the side effects but, they got much better after about 6 months.