synthroid and prolactinoma

I have a small prolactinoma. This caused breast engorgement  loss of period and other things. I also had lost outer part of eyebrows.  I took synthroid for one month and my period came back and eyebrows and breasts went down.

does this mean that I have hypothyroidism AND prolactinoma?  Does synthroid also reduce prolactin levels and treat it?

Please help!

[horselip]

Hi there-
When you are diagnosed with a prolactinoma the usual course of events is to be referred to a neuroendocrinologist. This is a special type of endocrinologist that specializes in more complex endocrine disorders that affect the pituitary gland etc.

They usually order an MRI to see how large and where exactly your adenoma is located in the pituitary gland. And then they run a series of lab tests to gauge how all of your hormones that the pituitary gland controls are doing. They also measure hormones to try and see if the adenoma is one that is secreting or not.

Prolactinomas will cause you to have an increase in your prolactin levels. But then if they are pressing on certain areas of your pituitary gland they can affect other hormones too like your thyroid, sex hormones, growth hormone and even your cortisol levels. This is known as "mass effect". The mass or adenoma is causing other hormonal problems.

Hypothyroidism is very common. So you might have this as a separate condition too and it not being caused by mass effect.

Usually the first line of treatment is to use a medication called a dopamine agonist like bromocriptine or cabergoline to bring your prolactin levels down. Sometimes this will shrink the prolactinoma too. These meds are effective in about 70% of the cases. If not then sometimes surgery is needed.

So to answer your question yes it sounds like you have hypothyroidism and a prolactinoma. But it may be that the hypothyroidism is due to mass effect. It could also be a separate deal and not connected to the prolactinoma. Synthroid does not reduce prolactin levels that I am aware of. However hypothyroidism can cause you to lose your period too.

So are you seeing a neuroendocrinologist? Have you had an MRI? Do you know what your prolactin levels were before and what they are now? Are you on Bromocriptine or Cabergoline too?

Hopes this helps to explain things a little bit-
Horselip