Can testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) cause high prolactin levels?

[husker3in4]

Can TRT cause high prolactin levels?

I have been on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for over a year, just 2ml/mo. 6 months later my test levels came back at around 500, an improvement from the low 200s and ok I guess since I am 43. I changed up to getting 1ml every 2 weeks, so the same monthly dosage just at a more consistent level.

My last result 2 months ago came back at 991 with my LH and FSH next to nil. they also tested prolactin, and it came back at 22 (high). They restested my prolactin yesterday, but not the testosterone. My prolactin is now28 so its still rising and almost double what the highest normal level is for men.

My endocrinologist tells me its either the supps Im taking, or that I have a tumor in my pituitary gland. They already scanned my head and didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but he says its possible that a potential tumor is just very small at this point.

The ONLY supps I take is whey protein (ON brand) and I alternate between Craze and Assault preworkouts, that's it.

He seems to think its the supps (easy to blame supps I guess?), but I have a hard time believing that something as simple as whey and/or craze/assault is causing this. He knows Im on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but doesnt seem to think it has anything to do with my elevated prolactin. Everything I read online says there could be a connection between testosterone and elevated "female hormones".

Anyone?

 

[SolomonGrundy]

what is missing is the E2 level, that can play into higher prolactin

 

[halfwit]

I have been on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for over a year, just 2ml/mo. 6 months later my test levels came back at around 500, an improvement from the low 200s and ok I guess since I am 43. I changed up to getting 1ml every 2 weeks, so the same monthly dosage just at a more consistent level.

My last result 2 months ago came back at 991 with my LH and FSH next to nil. they also tested prolactin, and it came back at 22 (high). They restested my prolactin yesterday, but not the testosterone. My prolactin is now28 so its still rising and almost double what the highest normal level is for men.

My endocrinologist tells me its either the supps Im taking, or that I have a tumor in my pituitary gland. They already scanned my head and didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but he says its possible that a potential tumor is just very small at this point.

The ONLY supps I take is whey protein (ON brand) and I alternate between Craze and Assault preworkouts, that's it.

He seems to think its the supps (easy to blame supps I guess?), but I have a hard time believing that something as simple as whey and/or craze/assault is causing this. He knows Im on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but doesnt seem to think it has anything to do with my elevated prolactin. Everything I read online says there could be a connection between testosterone and elevated "female hormones".

Anyone?

Your endo is just grasping at straws. As bhrees mentioned, elevated estradiol can bring prolactin up with it. I'm assuming your testosterone is 200mg/ml, so you're doing the equivalent to 100mg/wk. Try pinning 1x a week with .5ml - that will help to not only keep you from going on a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but will help keep those estrogen spikes at bay which can lead to elevated prolactin levels. If he's not into letting you do this, it might be time to find a new doc.

My .02c

 

[husker3in4]

That makes sense. I have the vial of Test and needles and self administer so I can change how often I get it. The other option I can do is just stop taking the test, shouldnt that bring the prolactone back down? do you think I will have a hard time kickstarting my test production again?

Your endo is just grasping at straws. As bhrees mentioned, elevated estradiol can bring prolactin up with it. I'm assuming your testosterone is 200mg/ml, so you're doing the equivalent to 100mg/wk. Try pinning 1x a week with .5ml - that will help to not only keep you from going on a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but will help keep those estrogen spikes at bay which can lead to elevated prolactin levels. If he's not into letting you do this, it might be time to find a new doc.

My .02c

 

[tiredguy]

I guess the bigger question is, are you actually having any negative effects from the elevated prolactin? and I think in the grand scheme of thing, it isn't THAT high - and may be just a temporary thing. I wouldn't made drastic changes based on one elevated prolactin reading.

 

[husker3in4]

Im not having any symptoms that I know of due to my high prolactin. My endo is concerned to find the root of the cause, since that high level *could* mean a tumor starting to grow on my pituitary gland. If they retest in 4 mo and its still high, he said they will start me on meds to shrink a possible tumor.

I wish I had asked WHAT med he was referring to when I was talking to him, from what Ive read, Dostinex wouldnt be a bad thing as it would shrink any potential tumor and bring down my prolactin levels at the same time.

In the meantime I think I am going to take a break from the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and see what my levels return to naturally (now that my thyroid levels are close to normal again).

My next question is, are there any non RX supps I can try that would potentially help to kickstart my normal test producing function?

I guess the bigger question is, are you actually having any negative effects from the elevated prolactin? and I think in the grand scheme of thing, it isn't THAT high - and may be just a temporary thing. I wouldn't made drastic changes based on one elevated prolactin reading.

 

[Megatron28]

If you are really worried about a pituitary tumor the best thing to do is simply have an MRI done. Then you will know for sure.

 

[husker3in4]

They already did that, it didnt show anything out of the ordinary. He thinks it might be too small to be detected..

If you are really worried about a pituitary tumor the best thing to do is simply have an MRI done. Then you will know for sure.

 

[tiredguy]

They already did that, it didnt show anything out of the ordinary. He thinks it might be too small to be detected..

consider having it tested again. might be a bad test / fluke, or temporary fluctuation. you never know. a 2nd opinion never hurts.

 

[SolomonGrundy]

looks like E1 and E3 can contribute to progesterone

 

[IMT staff]

Yes Estradiol has an effect on prolactin. Are you on any SSRI's?

Pharmacological causes of hyperprolactinemia

Hyperprolactinemia is a common endocrinological disorder that may be caused by several physiological and pathological conditions. Several drugs may determine a significant increase in prolactin serum concentration that is frequently associated with symptoms. The so-called typical antipsychotics are frequently responsible for drug-related hyperprolactinemia. Risperidone is one of the atypical neuroleptics most likely to induce hyperprolactinemia, while other atypical drugs are unfrequenlty and only transiently associated with increase of prolactin levels. Women are more sensitive than men to the hyperprolactinemic effect of antipsychotics. Classical and risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia may be revert when a gradual antipsychotic drug discontinuation is combined with olanzapine or clozapine initiation. Antidepressant drugs with serotoninergic activity, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-I) and some tricyclics, can cause hyperprolactinemia. A long list of other compounds may determine an increase in prolactin levels, including prokinetics, opiates, estrogens, anti-androgens, anti-hypertensive drugs, H2-receptor antagonists, anti-convulsivants and cholinomimetics. Finally, hyperprolactinemia has also been documented during conditioning and after autologous blood stem-cell transplantation and during chemotherapy, even though disturbances of prolactin seem to occur less frequently than impairments of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad/thyroid axis after intensive treatment and blood marrow transplantation.

Pharmacological causes of hyperprolactinemia

 

[halfwit]

That makes sense. I have the vial of Test and needles and self administer so I can change how often I get it. The other option I can do is just stop taking the test, shouldnt that bring the prolactone back down? do you think I will have a hard time kickstarting my test production again?

Why on earth would you want to go back to low testosterone levels? Restarting your HPTA depends on a TON of factors, the biggest being whether you're primary or secondary hypogonadal.

Yes Estradiol has an effect on prolactin. Are you on any SSRI's?

Pharmacological causes of hyperprolactinemia


Pharmacological causes of hyperprolactinemia

Prescribed meds that often are used as a bandaid for low testosterone carry with them risks??! Get out of here with that fancy science stuff!

 

[husker3in4]

What is an SSRI?

Also, What is the difference between primary and secondary hypogonadal?

Why on earth would you want to go back to low testosterone levels? Restarting your HPTA depends on a TON of factors, the biggest being whether you're primary or secondary hypogonadal.



Prescribed meds that often are used as a bandaid for low testosterone carry with them risks??! Get out of here with that fancy science stuff!

 

[Megatron28]

What is an SSRI?

Also, What is the difference between primary and secondary hypogonadal?

Husker: When you searched on Google for those terms or read through older posts on this forum what did you learn?