Pituitary Tumor

jacklg250 · August 19, 2016, 8:00pm

Hey guys, been lurking in the forums for the past week looking at experiences, however, I would like to hear some more. I’ve been given injections/gels for the past two months by my GP. She referred me to an endo this Monday. Me being OCD I immediately start to think I have a pituitary tumor/growth. I noticed that I had gyno at a young age (around 13, now 30) and my sexual drive hasn’t really been the best for the past 10 years. Currently taking anti anxiety meds (buspar) and SSRI (lexapro) for OCD. I get migraines (tunnel vision, then headache) once every two weeks. So far the testosterone treatments have been working on the energy/sexual functioning.

Anyways, I’d like to hear from those who have pituitary tumors, mainly, did you get it removed? Why did you get it removed? As you can see, I’d much rather avoid surgery. I know I’m jumping the gun on this as I do not know to why my testosterone is low yet, however hearing your own personal experience I think will help ease my mind.

Unfortunately I do not have blood work numbers to show you other than I believe my testosterone was at 266 (on a scale of 348-1197) from my first test. Second test on treatment was about 10 points lower.

Thank you in advance!

max13 · August 19, 2016, 8:04pm

Sorry I don’t usually post in the T-Replacement forum but I do want to add just in case you are not aware already that lexapro and buspar can both negatively impact your sex drive. Someone close to me is dealing with a similar issue. So I would maybe rule that out before thinking you have an issue with Low-T or your pituitary.

jacklg250 · August 19, 2016, 8:23pm

Thank you for the feedback. I understand that antidepressants aren’t the greatest for sex drive, however, My testosterone levels are below the spectrum. Once my doc put me on TRT. Sexual function was returned to normal. Main issue (sorry for the TMI) was getting/maintaining during sex. I always thought it was because of anxiety. I actually stumbled upon TRT after going in for a med check for the SSRI. I expressed my concerns to this doctor and she asked me if I had ever gotten my T-levels checked. I told her no, so she did the standard 2 blood tests and both came back lower than for that spectrum noted in the first post. So needless to say, I know that she should have sent me to an endo in the first place, but all I know is that it’s working. Thank you again for the reply! Keep em coming!

max13 · August 19, 2016, 8:34pm

No sweat, best of luck finding your solution.

blshaw · August 19, 2016, 11:54pm

What was your prolactin level? If it gets in the 100s that’s indicative of a tumor.

jacklg250 · August 20, 2016, 2:23am

They didn’t check it. Getting it checked Monday. I supposed I was just wondering what yalls experiences were regarding this.

blshaw · August 20, 2016, 2:50am

Elevated prolactin itself can cause low T. A tumor is a more serious issue and it it a benign growth can be treated with medication often. That would be in the case of a prolactinoma. cabergoline is often prescribed in that case.

jacklg250 · August 20, 2016, 1:56pm

Is this the more common type of tumor (prolactinoma) that you have seen in low t cases?

blshaw · August 20, 2016, 3:49pm

If you have a growth, yes but elevated prolactin can be present without a tumor or growth. SSRIs and other meds can cause elevated prolactin and then low T.

jacklg250 · August 20, 2016, 3:41pm

Interesting, didn’t know SSRI could do that!

blshaw · August 20, 2016, 3:50pm

Yes I am also on Lexapro and have high prolactin. Mine is double the top range, but still, prolactin would be about 20x that if it were a growth normally with levels in the 100-200+

KSman · August 20, 2016, 3:52pm

SSRI’s are more known for reducing E2 clearance in liver, increasing E2 that lowers LH/FSH and T.

If a prolactin secreting pituitary adinoma, it can be shrunk and managed with 0.5mg/week cabergoline. Surgery not required or desirable. Maybe this is an obsession.

Please see stickies found here: About the T Replacement Category

advice for new guys
things that damage your hormones
protocol for injections
finding a TRT doc

Post all of your labs with lab ranges. Do you have pre TRT LH/FSH?
Are you young or old?

TT
FT
E2
prolactin
LH/FSH from before TRT
CBC
TSH
AST/ALT

blshaw · August 20, 2016, 4:00pm

Lexapro and prolactin

It’s not common and since your not a women you wouldn’t have gelatorhea, but still it’s side effect.

KSman · August 21, 2016, 5:41pm

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of the effects of citalopram and escitalopram on 5-Ht-mediated neuroendocrine responses.

HS Nadeem, MJ Attenburrow and PJ Cowen, Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Sep 2004

Acute oral administration of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increases plasma cortisol by facilitating brain serotonin activity. Recently, salivary cortisol sampling has grown in popularity as a noninvasive means of assessing HPA axis activity. The aim of the present study was to find out whether acute oral administration of the SSRI, citalopram, increases salivary cortisol in healthy volunteers and whether the increase produced by an equivalent dose of its active isomer, escitalopram, is greater. A total of 15 healthy subjects were tested on three occasions receiving either oral citalopram (20 mg), escitalopram (10 mg), or placebo in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. Salivary cortisol and plasma cortisol and prolactin were measured for 240 min after each treatment. Relative to placebo, both citalopram and escitalopram increased salivary and plasma cortisol levels with no evidence of consistent differences between them. Plasma prolactin concentration was not altered by either active treatment. Plasma and salivary cortisol responses after citalopram but not escitalopram correlated significantly. The present study does not support an enhanced effect of escitalopram on 5-HT-mediated neuroendocrine responses.

“Plasma prolactin concentration was not altered by either active treatment.”

I am not going to look at this in depth. Just thought that I would show that there are mixed signals in the publications. Part of the problem may be that some of these investigations do not look at long term effects.

blshaw · August 22, 2016, 2:45am

I’m not surprised with a 15 person panel. The side affect of the drug affects about 2% of users from what I’ve read. I think that a lot of those 2% would find this forum. I’m only mentioning it because my doc thinks it may be my issue from a lack of other explanations. Thanks for the post and read!