Prolactin

[Ellyx]

Pretty much all of the medications I have been on have caused me to have raised Prolactin and I've done some internet research but I cant really find any information I can make sense of.

What is Prolactin and what are the dangers of it being raised?

[SoDark]

I don't know but I am also interested.

[Solstice]

High prolactin levels can be indicative of epilepsy if too elevated after what is thought to be a seizure (I had this recently), it is also elevated during and after pregnancy during the time that a mother is nursing. Pretty much everyone has prolactin in their blood because it is produced by the pituitary gland but it doesn't have much of a use to be honest but it can help diagnose things (like seizures, fertility, ect.) I am pretty sure that it is also similar to cortisol in that it can elevate if you are under a high level of stress.

High prolactin levels can affect your menstruation/ovulation cycle so that's something you could talk to your doctor about if you start to notice that you don't have a regular cycle. They may want to adjust medications or try another medication to regulate you.

I also think that if it gets incredibly high it can cause you to start lactating but I could be wrong on that.

I'm not sure if this helps much.
Nicole

[startingagain]

I've had it 'naturally' and I believe it can (and in the long term) cause liver and kidney problems, osteoporoses and fertility difficulties. Anything that messes up your hormones isn't very good for you and I was under an endocrinologist. If high enough it will cause lactation and that is one way they know to test you. Hope you find a medication that helps.

[Cedrus]

Have you been on aripiprazole before? That doesn't normally raise prolactin. In fact, when I took it along side olanzapine (which had raised my prolactin levels to the point that my cycle was messed up) it helped my prolactin levels get back to normal.

For some reason I thought raised prolactin was present during pregnancy, not sure if that's right though.

[Ranger Fairy]

I have had raised prolactin levels when on rispiradone. They didn't really explain, they didn't seem to think it was too much of problem.

I was having leaking breasts at the same time, not sure if that was related