Hormonal drug "Dostinex": reviews with increased prolactin in women and men. How to take "Dostinex" with increased prolactin?

Prolactin is a hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland located in the brain. For both women and men, the level of this hormone in the blood is extremely important. Its content in the volume above the norm practically negates the functioning of the human reproductive system. A woman can not become pregnant, and a man can lose libido and develop impotence.

In order to solve this problem, special medical preparations have been developed, one of which is Dostinex. Reviews with increased prolactin characterize this remedy as very effective.

What is "Dostinex"?

"Dostineksom" is called a drug designed to combat hyperprolactinemia and all sorts of diseases that are provoked and combined with it. That is, the medication will be effective in such problems as amenorrhea (absence of menstruation for several cycles), infertility, galactorrhea (excretion of milk from the mammary glands, not related to the feeding of the baby), prolactin-secreting adenoma of the pituitary gland, acromegaly (dysfunction of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland , Which is accompanied by a thickening of the hands, feet, skulls).

The main constituent of the drug is cabergoline, lactose and leucine serve as auxiliary components. Forms of "Dostinex" - tablets of 0.5 mg, in one package - 8 pieces. The essence of the drug - blocking the production of prolactin, which, for example, in the female body makes it possible in time to ripen the follicle, restore the menstrual cycle. As a consequence, there is a normal ovulation, a woman is likely to become pregnant.

The level of prolactin in the blood

When, after taking tests for hormones in the blood, increased prolactin is detected, the treatment of "Dostinex" is the most commonly used scheme of therapeutic measures. As for women, it is recommended to take blood for analysis from the 3rd to the 8th day of the menstrual cycle (counting from the first day of menstruation). The analysis should be given on an empty stomach, preferably no later than 2-3 hours after awakening. Before taking the test, it is recommended to exclude large physical exertion, avoid stressful situations, give up sex, do not eat sweets.

In the human blood, prolactin is contained in several forms. The monomeric form of this hormone is the largest proportion - up to 80%. Dimeric prolactin is contained in an amount of 5 to 20% of the total volume of the hormone, and tetrameric - no more than 5%.

The following indicators of the level of prolactin in the blood are considered the norm in the medical environment:

• for women not pregnant - 4-49 ng / ml (permissible fluctuations, depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle);
• for women pregnant - 34-386 ng / ml (permissible fluctuations, depending on the period of pregnancy);
• for men - 2.5-17 ng / ml.

Symptoms and causes of increased prolactin in women

After the fact of increased prolactin is established, it is necessary to conduct certain studies to establish the causes. That is, before recommending the reception of "Dostinex" with increased prolactin, usually the attending physician appoints his patient to do a tomogram of the brain, radiography, examination of the fundus, etc.

As a rule, in most cases, the following factors are the cause of the increased content of the hormone-prolactin:

• The presence of prolactinoma (a neoplasm in the pituitary - usually benign - producing prolactin in a large volume).
• Polycystic ovary.
• Hypothyroidism - insufficiency of hormone production by the thyroid gland.
• Anorexia (lack of weight) and some other problems of internal organs.

Usually the woman's body signals an increased level of prolactin with a certain set of symptoms. Of the most frequently noted - deviations in the menstrual cycle, weight gain, fast-onset fatigue, development of depression, sleep disturbances.

Then the patients talk about the appearance of acne and the excessive growth of hair in places not typical for the female body (face, area around the nipples, etc.). Excretions from the mammary glands and the development of infertility, due to the absence of ovulation or too short a luteal phase, are also good reasons for the doctor to appoint "Dostinex". Reviews with increased prolactin in women often have a positive direction and indicate the effectiveness of the drug.

Symptoms and causes of increased prolactin in men

Unlike women, in men the high level of prolactin in the blood is secondary - this is most often a consequence of the already existing problem. If there is such a factor as increased prolactin in men, "Dostinex" is appointed to receive in parallel with the medicines recommended by the doctor to fight the detected disease.

An increase in the level of prolactin in representatives of the strong half can provoke such diseases as prolactinoma (a brain tumor, usually benign, producing prolactin), hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function), severe liver and kidney problems, impaired adrenal cortex function, various A kind of disease and a brain tumor. In addition, an increase in prolactin levels in men may be triggered by the use of certain medications - opiates, antipsychotics, antidepressants, etc.

The main symptom of the excess content of this hormone in the blood of men is the same as in women - a violation of the reproductive function, in most cases accompanied by abnormalities in fat and carbohydrate metabolism (obesity). At the man the sexual inclination decreases, signs of impotence develop. Sometimes an increase in mammary glands and a small selection of them is recorded.

If the cause of the development of hyperprolactinemia is prolactinoma, then various manifestations in the field of neurology are manifested early enough. Everything can start with headaches, dizziness and slight visual impairment. If no measures are taken to solve the problem, the paralysis of the oculomotor muscles develops, the eyelid drooping, double vision in the eyes, and the like develop over time. In parallel with this symptomatology, the patient's performance decreases, irritability, anxiety, propensity to depressive states, inability to concentrate attention, memory loss. Often, men develop type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis. All these symptoms the doctor can consider a sufficient reason for the appointment to receive medication "Dostinex." Reviews with increased prolactin in men indicate a good effect of using the drug while following the doctor's recommendations.

"Dostinex" and pregnancy

In general, women who are in reproductive age should know that pregnancy is one of the main contraindications for the use of "Dostinex". Reviews with increased prolactin (pregnancy in itself is the reason for the gradual increase in the level of prolactin in the woman's blood), no matter how positive they are, should not mislead the woman.

The level of prolactin in the body of a woman bearing a baby starts to grow gradually, beginning with the 8th week and reaching the maximum values by a period of 20-25 weeks. This hormone, in addition to preparing the woman's mammary glands for the future feeding of the baby, also has a strong influence on the formation of the lung tissue of the developing baby.

Before the beginning of treatment "Dostinex" it is necessary to exclude the presence of pregnancy and throughout the course of treatment to use mechanical methods of contraception. If the fact of the onset of pregnancy is registered already against the background of the begun course of treatment, you should stop taking Dostinex.

The half-life of cabergoline (the main active ingredient of the drug) is quite long. Therefore, if a woman subsequently plans a pregnancy, the "Dostinex" should be taken no later than 1 month before the proposed conception, in order to exclude the possibility of developing negative consequences for the fetus.

Drug application schedules

On how to properly drink "Dostinex" with increased prolactin, your doctor should notify your patient. The standard scheme for taking this medication is one (maximum two) times during the week, while eating. If the reason for the appointment of "Dostinex" is hyperprolactinaemia, the maximum volume of the drug within a week should not be more than 4.5 mg (should be divided into several receptions). After the beginning of the course of therapy, patients should monitor the level of prolactin in the blood and monthly take the appropriate tests. Usually the indicators come to normal after 2-4 weeks from the beginning of treatment.

In the event that a woman for some reason wants to prevent postpartum lactation, she is prescribed 1 mg of the drug once on the first day after childbirth. How to take "Dostinex" with increased prolactin, if the lactation process has already settled?

To stop it, the doctor usually recommends 250 μg of the drug every 12 hours for 2 days. With this regimen, there are fewer side effects in the form of arterial hypertension.

Negative manifestations

In the majority of cases about the drug "Dostinex" reviews with elevated prolactin are of a positive nature.The drug in the medical workers' environment is considered highly effective, with almost no side effects, but nevertheless some negative effects are observed.Often you can hear about lowering blood pressure, headaches Pain and dizziness, insomnia, nausea and pain in the gastrointestinal tract.

Naturally, there are also negative reviews about the drug "Dostinex" reviews with increased prolactin. Side effects can be manifested in the development of gastritis, vomiting, constipation, the appearance of drowsiness and weakness, in the "tides" of blood in the face, in the appearance of depression and paresthesia, in the painful tension of the mammary glands.

True, it is worth saying that all these manifestations are almost never clearly pronounced. Most side effects occur at the very beginning of treatment - during the first two weeks. If the dosage is slightly lowered, the negative symptoms will disappear. After that, you can again gradually increase the dose to an effective dose. With the complete abolition of "Dostinex" negative symptoms will disappear within 1-2 days.

Contraindications to reception "Dostinex", overdose

There are few contraindications for this medicine, but they are. First, hypersensitivity to the components of the drug (to all ergot derivatives, including). Secondly, pregnancy. The question of how to drink "Dostinex" with increased prolactin during pregnancy, is not at all - this is unacceptable for a woman who is expecting a baby. In addition, the medication can not be taken during lactation, if the woman does not have any valid reasons for an emergency cessation of this process. Further, doctors do not recommend taking "Dostinex" to women who have postpartum hypertension and postpartum psychosis (even in the anamnesis).

With great care and under constant supervision, patients with cardiovascular problems, Raynaud's syndrome, renal and hepatic insufficiency, stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract should take medication to their health condition.

Do not prescribe the drug also to those patients who have a history of mental illness.

In order to prevent the maximum possible dose, the question of how much and how to take "Dostinex" with increased prolactin should remain under the control of the attending physician. The fact of an overdose is indicated by the presence of such conditions as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, sudden general weakness, drowsiness, sweating, spasms of the calf muscles, psychomotor agitation, the development of psychosis, the appearance of hallucinations. As therapeutic measures to eliminate the effects of drug overdosage, gastric lavage, constant monitoring of blood pressure and the intake of dopamine antagonist medications are recommended.

Special Information

If reception "Dostinex" with an increased prolactin is ineffective, then the cause of the development of hyperprolactinemia in this particular patient should be sought in another area.

Women in the case of treatment with this drug over a long period of time should undergo a regular gynecological examination with mandatory cervical gynecological examination and histological examination of the endometrium.

In the process of treatment, "Dostinex" should constantly monitor blood pressure and functioning of the digestive tract due to the potential danger of bleeding. In addition, patients taking Dostinex (reviews with increased prolactin focus on such facts) should not be engaged or at least for some time it is necessary to refrain from engaging in potentially dangerous activities requiring high concentration of attention and increased speed of psychomotor reactions .

Patients' opinion about the drug

As mentioned earlier, "Dostinex" is a modern and highly effective drug that does not cause serious adverse events. The main contingent of patients taking this drug are women. The most frequent reasons for prescribing this drug are the presence of prolactinoma, the inability to conceive and the cessation of prolonged lactation. In all these cases, the "Dostinex" drug reviews with elevated prolactin are positive. The drug inhibits the development of prolactinoma (and in men too), helps women in a short time to finish the period of prolonged and abundant lactation without the threat of developing mastitis and the need to tie up the breast. Women who could not become pregnant due to, as it turned out, a high level of prolactin, significantly exceeding the norm, suggest that the indicator within 2-4 weeks came to a physiological norm, and after the abolition of "Dostineks" a long-awaited pregnancy began.

There are, of course, also reviews about negative reactions to the use of "Dostinex". However, side effects almost never have a pronounced character and quickly pass independently when the drug is withdrawn or the dose is reduced.