You need to have your Dr. check your other pituitary hormone one of them may be off too.

Linda- I take L-Tyrosine, not L-Lysine. L-Lysine is good for herpes viruses like coldsores etc. I take 4000 mg of L-Tyrosine, and I honestly forget how much b-6, will have to find my Dr.s notes somewhere. And by the way, what you described as feeling like a stroke sounds to me like a panic attack. I had two of those within one week of eachother as I was coming off the cabergoline. That stuff is poison in my body, its just nasty stuff! Seems like we have gone through similar things with this med!

As for stress relievers, valarian, kava kava, passionflower, holy basil, hops, are all good. I work for a health food store and help lots of people who come in with stress and anxiety. From my experience with lexapro, xanax, etc for the depression/anxiety caused by the cabergoline, these meds actually made things worse because the side effects were so bad. I also heard that they can increase prolactin because they boost seretonin... which throws of the balance with dopamine.

I guess the big thing we've all gotta do is get our dopamine up! Thats what the cabergoline was supposed to do. So, taking the L-tyrosine, the B6 (which aids in the synthesis of neurotransmitters like dopamine), eating right (no sugar, no caffeine, no chocolate, low saturated fats, cholesterol, and all artificial food ingredients like artificial sweeteners), exercising, and getting adequate sleep are the most important things. Stress is only going to raise prolactin and decrease dopamine further.

I hope this has helped... I've been researching the topic for the past 3 days, non-stop, and I think it is beginning to make sense. Let me know how you're doing, and keep in touch!

I'm Sarah By the way!!
=)

Hi Sarah
Thank u for taken your time out to write back to me. This is my first week off cab. I am having bad stomach pains . Bad!!! I am making an appointment with a naturopath doctor this week .. It's is poison but it did bring down my prolactin. I just can't take it. It's killing me. I was home for two days with my stomach .. I miss being myself.. I cried all day which does not help prolactin. I still take a half a Xanax until I see this new doctor. I will change everything to not take cab.
You are right about lexapro . I was on that for three years and I know it raised my prolactin. That and stress.
I guess there are withdraws coming off cab..
How do you feel now and how long have you been off cab.? As for eating food I am just eating soup. I had a little shrimp tonight.
I dread mornings because I never know how I am going to feel.
I will keep u posted on my doctors appointments.
Linda

Oh and I have a strange taste in my mouth.
Add that to the list.

Linda- Your side effects as you are coming off the cabergoline sound JUST like I felt!!! I was off it for one week and was very sick, felt more depressed, had 2 panic attacks in one week (one of which ended me up in the ER), and overall feeling confused, anxious, and emotional. Week two of being off the meds was a lot better. Felt more like myself, still a little anxious. This is week 3 and I feel great! Feel like my old self, very little anxiety, but i am still slightly stressed, which is more than likely from thinking about this tumor all the time... I find that exercise is helping tremendously! I will either walk for half an hour or swim at the local pool for half an hour. That and cutting caffeine (which was hard because although I dont drink coffee/tea, I do love chocolate and was eating some everyday! lol) So, yah, now that is been three weeks, i feel great ! I am devoting all my energy into raising my dopamine. I really think the doctors have it wrong... focus less on reducing the prolactin, and more on raising your dopamine.. naturally though... the dopamine agonist drugs like cabergoline are too artificial. I read they dont actually make dopamine in the brain, they do something to mimic it. I dont understand it fully , but it seems like its not what your body is used to naturally. no wonder we all have such horrible side effects!!! Just hang in there. i know its hard, i just went through this for weeks... but you can get there. And honestly, i read that all SSRI antidepressants like lexapro etc raise prolactin.. check it out on wikipedia. I am amazed our doctors would allow that. I think they don't know enough about this disease. Its so frustrating! Just keep doing what your doing, give yourself time to get back on track. Then stay off your perscriptions and do the alternative medicine and make some lifestyle changes. I think more of us need to try this. I want to get the word out there so people can give us more feedback!

-Sarah

It's possible that the Caber is causing these issues, but it may also be the case that your thyroid is not functioning correctly. Have you had your thyroid function checked recently. Hyper-thyroid symptoms are very similar.

I've been on Caber for over 8 months and find it makes me sleep very well on the nights that I take it (I'm only taking .5 mg once a week). It also enhances my mood significantly so that I rarely have low/depressive moods since being on the meds.

I am pretty upset stopping cab. I do not want my prolactin or tumor get worst. But I am having so many side effects. I have been on cab. For three months. I have anxiety, depression, just feel crazy.
Now it's stomach pain and bowel movement. I am so sick.. Last appetite and bad taste in my mouth. It's something new everyday. My endo said to go off for two weeks to see if it's cab. Causing all of these .. I never had this before. I eat a balance diet and work out three to four days a week. I am so disappointed. I am seeing a naturopathic hopefully this week. My family doctor did every blood work possible.
It's been a week off cab. And today me and my husband went to the shore. My stomach was still in pain and the heat did give me anxiety. But this is the first day I really was a little bit the old Linda ...
I read that some have no side effects and others have bad effects.
I am really lost for words.
Thanks everyone for your comments.
Linda