![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tom Twilight on May 8, 2007, at 13:27:12
I'm concerned about my Prolactin levels & resulting Man Boobs!
Does anyone know what supplements & drugs can be used to lower Prolactin?
I know Dopamine Agonists work, what else?
Posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 14:12:47
In reply to How to Lower Prolactin?, posted by Tom Twilight on May 8, 2007, at 13:27:12
Anus Castus lowers prolactin levels and is a natural dopamine agonist. Here are some studies:
__________________________________________________
The berries are considered a tonic herb for both the male and female reproductive systems. The leaves have the same effect, but to a somewhat lesser degree. It is used in some supplements for male bodybuilders as a secondary component, as some studies suggested that it may decrease the prolactin levels, which, in turn, increases LH (luteinizing hormone)and testosterone levels. It has been assumed to not have the same effect on the female hormonal balance, but recent studies contradict this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitex_agnus-castus
__________________________________________________Since AC extracts were shown to have beneficial effects on premenstrual mastodynia serum prolactin levels in such patients were also studied in one double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Serum prolactin levels were indeed reduced in the patients treated with the extract. The search for the prolactin-suppressive principle(s) yielded a number of compounds with dopaminergic properties: they bound to recombinant DA2-receptor protein and suppressed prolactin release from cultivated lactotrophs as well as in animal experiments. The search for the chemical identity of the dopaminergic compounds resulted in isolation of a number of diterpenes of which some clerodadienols were most important for the prolactin-suppressive effects. They were almost identical in their prolactin-suppressive properties than dopamine itself. Hence, it is concluded that dopaminergic compounds present in Vitex agnus castus are clinically the important compounds which improve premenstrual mastodynia and possibly also other symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome.
PMID: 12809367 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12809367&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
__________________________________________________Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study.Schellenberg R.
Institute for Health Care and Science, 35625 Huttenberg, Germany. med@t-online.deOBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of agnus castus fruit (Vitex agnus castus L extract Ze 440) with placebo for women with the premenstrual syndrome. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group comparison over three menstrual cycles. SETTING: General medicine community clinics. Participants: 178 women were screened and 170 were evaluated (active 86; placebo 84). Mean age was 36 years, mean cycle length was 28 days, mean duration of menses was 4.5 days. INTERVENTIONS: Agnus castus (dry extract tablets) one tablet daily or matching placebo, given for three consecutive cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main efficacy variable: change from baseline to end point (end of third cycle) in women's self assessment of irritability, mood alteration, anger, headache, breast fullness, and other menstrual symptoms including bloating. Secondary efficacy variables: changes in clinical global impression (severity of condition, global improvement, and risk or benefit) and responder rate (50% reduction in symptoms). RESULTS: Improvement in the main variable was greater in the active group compared with placebo group (P<0.001). Analysis of the secondary variables showed significant (P<0.001) superiority of active treatment in each of the three global impression items. Responder rates were 52% and 24% for active and placebo, respectively. Seven women reported mild adverse events (four active; three placebo), none of which caused discontinuation of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Dry extract of agnus castus fruit is an effective and well tolerated treatment for the relief of symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome.
PMID: 11159568 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=11159568
__________________________________________________Q
Posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 14:14:31
In reply to Re: How to Lower Prolactin? » Tom Twilight, posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 14:12:47
Posted by bipolarspectrum on May 8, 2007, at 14:27:01
In reply to How to Lower Prolactin?, posted by Tom Twilight on May 8, 2007, at 13:27:12
Abilify, an atypical antipsychotic, is a partial agonist at certain dopamine receptors, which has been shown to reduce prolactin levels..
bps
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 8, 2007, at 15:03:37
In reply to How to Lower Prolactin?, posted by Tom Twilight on May 8, 2007, at 13:27:12
Hi Tom
Do you actually have high prolactin? Have you had it measured?
Most commonly, 'man boobs' are just fat, not breast tissue. If you can feel what you think is breast tissue you need to be examined by your doctor.
Take care
Ed
Posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 15:17:33
In reply to Re: How to Lower Prolactin? » Tom Twilight, posted by kaleidoscope on May 8, 2007, at 15:03:37
Yeah, moobs are very common, almost normal if you're overweight. There would probably be other problems like sexual dysfunction if your prolactin levels were too high. Are you taking an antipsychotic that might be raising your prolactin levels?
Q
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on May 8, 2007, at 15:33:30
In reply to Re: How to Lower Prolactin? » Tom Twilight, posted by kaleidoscope on May 8, 2007, at 15:03:37
Mister Tom!
Well, I don't know about how to lower prolactin levels (unfortunately) but don't worry about moobs. I saw your pic on that thing that you sent me the link to and you look very nice to me with no moobs to be seen (but preferably without the goth make up!!) :o)
Actually weren't moobs to be blamed on xeno-oestrogens or something in our diet?? Well anyway, tofu and soy products contain alot of phyto-oestrogen - although I don't think they affect moob development.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on May 8, 2007, at 15:40:37
In reply to Re: How to Lower Prolactin? » Tom Twilight, posted by kaleidoscope on May 8, 2007, at 15:03:37
> If you can feel what you think is breast tissue you need to be examined by your doctor.Sorry, this made me giggle. But how does one know the difference? What does breast tissue feel like? I thought they'd be the same in feeling, I mean, between moobs and boobs. Well I mean, breasts feel just like say, pockets of fat. Which I thought they were plus some milk ducts. Oh well. I hope I'm making sense! It doesn't matter anyway.
Posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 15:55:37
In reply to Re: How to Lower Prolactin? » kaleidoscope, posted by Meri-Tuuli on May 8, 2007, at 15:40:37
That makes me wonder - does elevated prolactin increase the risk of breast cancer in men? I suppose the years of exposure to antipsychotics in combination with black hair dye from my own gothic phase would have raised the cancer risk? :-) What should I be feeling for?
Q
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 8, 2007, at 16:21:05
In reply to Re: How to Lower Prolactin? » kaleidoscope, posted by Meri-Tuuli on May 8, 2007, at 15:40:37
Hi Meri
>But how does one know the difference? What does breast tissue feel like?
Breast tissue is firmer and can be felt underneath the fatty tissue of men with true gyneacomastia.
Regards
Posted by Declan on May 8, 2007, at 19:09:46
In reply to Moob Cancer? » Meri-Tuuli, posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 15:55:37
Hydergine in doses above 10mg/d or so is said to reduce prolactin.
It is certainly dopaminergic.
Posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 19:57:44
In reply to Re: Moob Cancer?, posted by Declan on May 8, 2007, at 19:09:46
Do you have moobs Declan? My dad grew a pair when he went through the andropause in his 50's, quite pert at first but now drooping into a pair of flabby 'fried eggs' - still enough fill a B-cup though!
Anyway, let's not forget poor Tom's predicament. ((((Tom's T*ts))))
Q
Posted by Declan on May 8, 2007, at 20:20:28
In reply to Re: Moob Cancer? » Declan, posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 19:57:44
Nah, Quintal, afraid not, whether because of the supplementary testosterone or because I learned how to eat myself thin I don't know.
But it's something to think about if I went on Nardil.
Posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 20:31:16
In reply to Declan's position on man boobs » Quintal, posted by Declan on May 8, 2007, at 20:20:28
Yeah, I've considered it myself but unfortunately I'm already starting to grow back the jellybelly I lost when I quit benzos (shock and starvation you see). Supplementary testosterone can stave of moob development? Do you think Proviron would work?
Q
Posted by Phillipa on May 8, 2007, at 22:36:29
In reply to Quintal's Reflections on JB Development » Declan, posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 20:31:16
Have your pituitary gland checked . Love Phillipa
Posted by Jedi on May 9, 2007, at 2:58:06
In reply to Quintal's Reflections on JB Development » Declan, posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 20:31:16
> Yeah, I've considered it myself but unfortunately I'm already starting to grow back the jellybelly I lost when I quit benzos (shock and starvation you see). Supplementary testosterone can stave of moob development? Do you think Proviron would work?
>
> QQ,
Actually supplementary testosterone is quite easily converted to estradiol through aromatization in the human male. This can lead to gynecomastia. That's why the weight lifters on steriods will supplement with an aromatase inhibitor. It is the extra estrogen that leads to the enlargement of the male breast.
JediReference: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic934.htm
Posted by Quintal on May 9, 2007, at 6:11:26
In reply to Re: Quintal's Reflections on JB Development » Quintal, posted by Jedi on May 9, 2007, at 2:58:06
Thank you Jedi. Yes, but it depends on the amount doesn't it? I would guess most people using supplementary testosterone are taking much smaller doses than weightlifters who are using it as an anabolic steroid. I once bought a batch of tamoxifen with nandralone in the hope of staving off gynecomastia, but fortunately I never used either of them.
Q
Posted by Declan on May 9, 2007, at 14:12:11
In reply to Re: Quintal's Reflections on JB Development » Quintal, posted by Jedi on May 9, 2007, at 2:58:06
This is one reason to try to approach optimum weight.
The fat cells around the abdomen secrete aromatase which converts testosterone into estrogen leading to weight gain.
Many middle aged men have higher estrogen levels than middle aged women.
Chrysin is an aromatase inhibitor.
Posted by Sandra62 on May 9, 2007, at 17:14:12
In reply to Aromatase, posted by Declan on May 9, 2007, at 14:12:11
If you are having milky discharge from your nipples then I would suspect an elevated prolactin level. I have had this from some of the medication that I'm taking (suspected from the Zyprexa I was on), had my levels checked and they were around 33 ng/ml, normal levels should be less than 24 ng/ml. Much higher levels, into the high 100's might be suspect to a benign pituatary gland tumour. The treatment is usually something like Bromocryptine. I asked my OB/GYN if I could use it to lower my slightly elevated level and he said no, too many side-effects. Have you had your prolactin level checked?
Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2007, at 19:03:39
In reply to Re: Aromatase, posted by Sandra62 on May 9, 2007, at 17:14:12
That was the first question the doc asked me when my MRI of pituitary showed a small tumor but no lactation. Said not to worry about it so I don't. Love Phillipa
Posted by Tom Twilight on May 11, 2007, at 9:53:18
In reply to Re: Aromatase, posted by Sandra62 on May 9, 2007, at 17:14:12
Well I certainly learnt a new word today!
Seriously I'm glad I started of such a vigorious discusion.
I have know idea if my Prolactin levels are actually elivated, so I'm just guessing!
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.