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High prolactin (hyperprolactinaemia)

Hyperprolactinaemia · Zvýšený prolaktin (hyperprolaktinemie)

What it is

Too much of the milk hormone — from a small pituitary tumour, a medicine or an underactive thyroid — stops periods, brings milk from the nipples and lowers libido.

Symptoms & signs

  • Absent or irregular periods
  • milky nipple discharge (galactorrhoea)
  • infertility
  • low libido and erectile dysfunction in men
  • headache or narrowing vision with a large tumour

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden severe headache with vision loss or vomiting
  • see a doctor soon Loss of side vision or double vision
  • see a doctor soon Milky nipple discharge when not breastfeeding
  • see a doctor soon Missed periods or low sex drive with headaches

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Repeat prolactin, pregnancy test and TSH
  • review medicines (antipsychotics, metoclopramide)
  • MRI of the pituitary
  • cabergoline or bromocriptine
  • surgery for resistant or large tumours

Natural & lifestyle

  • Avoid nipple stimulation and stress before the blood test
  • never stop an antipsychotic on your own to lower prolactin

Emerging & experimental

  • Temozolomide for aggressive tumours
  • endoscopic surgery as first choice for small tumours

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Vitex (chasteberry) — lowers prolactin in small trials; can interact with dopamine drugs mixed evidence
  • Vitamin B6 — small old studies; untested for tumours anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes