Any Females know about Fentanyl and increased Prolactin??

[lisatampa]

Hello....I'm on 12.5mcg Duragesic..i've had regular cycles q27d x5years (except for Pain pump nightmare) like clockwork......this last month, PM added Fentora 200mcg which is working great (can't stand the cost though)..

I had NO monthly, it is still 2weeks late (neg preg test).....i was finally thinking---hmmmmm the only thing different this month is the new med; Fentora---i took out the package insert and low and behold Endocrine: Increased Prolactin, Increased GH...(among suppression of similar hormomes that the pain pump did to me)....

Prolactin, I know could delay my monthly....this is making me nervous, as hopefully that's all that's happening, because w/the pump, it enlarged my adrenal gland(compensation of pituitary suppression)...i don't want to go through that again..

I was fine on just Duragesic...could this be dose related??? Also, I was on Actic a year ago (800mcg) and nothing like this happened..

thanks for being here,Lisa

[oh_snap]

Why not increase the duragesic (the patches) and decrease the amount of rescue med (fentora)?

It is my understanding that long term use of opiods does have some affect on hormonal levels. How much? dunno.

Perhaps you may want to talk with your endocrinologist (if you have one).

I don't know how often you need the rescue meds (not questioning need), but you may be better served by getting the base med just a bit higher, and dropping the rescue (especially if it is being use on a daily basis).

Also, the adrenal/pit issues could be something that is not connected to med use, but coincided. I know that often docs want to blame everything else that goes wrong [in the body] on the use of opiods. Am hoping that you have had a thorough endo workup to rule out other causes of hormonal dysfunction.

Best of luck.

[Gimpy]

Lisa:

I don't know anything about the pain med connection, but I have had elevated prolactin levels several times after my children were born. Way past what would be the norm. I just kept producing breast milk is how we found out. Now I wonder, if the use of pain meds may have caused that problem; even though during those times I was only on an occasional vicoden. But, even with the elevated levels my periods were always normal. I can't remember the name of the medication I took to bring down those levels. There is a range that can be treated with meds. But if the levels are to high, it's indicative of a tumor or something on the pituitary gland. This is very interesting! I hope you can find the answer soon. I also know that if your thyroid levels are all normal, except for an elevated T4, that is also indicative of a pituitary problem. Have you had your thyroid levels check recently? That may be something to look into too before you start thinking of giving up your meds, especially if they help so much.

Good luck,

Gimpy

[DiMarie]

MY son had multiple facet infections close together and went into adrenal failure. It was bad, Doc W caught on what was happening and a trip to ER, and a few days in patient, revealed the adreanl gland shut down from too much steroid from injection days closeness.

Now after years of injections he is diagx three years ago with pituatary tumors, they watch the sizes and prolactin levels.

Keep a close eye and don;t just think a medication problem, ahve your health well checked out.
Dianne

[lisatampa]

Thank you all for responding...

I see my OB/GYN tuesday to tell him what's going on....I'm sure he'll do blood work.....i'm asking the Endocrinologist I saw with the Pain Pump nightmare/Adrenal problem happened last spring to fax all my female type labs (Prolactin,FSH,Estrogen,Progesterone,etc) to my GYN to compare....all the labs from May were awsome, 6weeks after Pain Pump turned off.

Lisa