How long is treatment?

[kala021]

My husband was just diagnosed with a macroadenoma. (2.8cm) His prolactin level is over 2000. The endocrinologist said that he will start him on medication. (a dopamine agonost). How long can we anticipate that treatment will take until his prolactin levels are normal?

[mistymountainhop]

My husband has been on Dostinex for a 8 or 9 weeks now.  The prolactin was originally at 2800, after 6 weeks it was down to 145.  He just had blood drawn again on Monday, so we are waiting for those results.  He's also on Testosterone injections now as well.  

Keep in mind that your husband may be on meds for the rest of his life.  The amount of time it will take is different for everyone.  We have noticed some changes in the last two months, more energy, libido is back, ED is gone.... so that's all good.  Now we are waiting to notice a change in weight.  I am guessing that that will happen once his prolactin levels are back in the normal range.  We shall see.

Good luck!

[rumpled]

What do his hormone tests say? Are they treating him for everything thing that is off?  If prolactin is off, odds are androgens are off too - testosterone, estrogen - so he may need some help there. Have they tested all the thyroid etc.

Frankly a tumor that big is going to press on the pit and suppress a lot of hormones - they should be replacing a lot of things. Are they?

There are a couple of meds - bromocriptine and dostinex so one or the other will be used.

How long had he had the symptoms before he sought out treatment?  I know I had quite a few symptoms before I figured out even what type of doctor to get to for help. It may a year or more to get the tumor down gradually, but that is not to say you will not feel better right away on the meds, just that it will take a long time to get the tumor to shrink. He will have to stay on a med to keep it down.

I know with my prolactinoma, I was a mess. It was also physically painful.

[kala021]

When you say that it will take time, you mean a few months, a few years? With Prolactin that high, everything is messed up - is there anything to smooth things through faster?

[rumpled]

Every person is different. It all depends too on how he tolerates the medications. He should start the meds, and get checked every few months, and an MRI every 6 months since his tumor is so large. Once things are stable, MRIs can go to annually, and blood tests can spread out too.

But it will take time, and he will be on treatment for life.