A prolactinoma is a type of tumor that attaches to the pituitary gland. In almost all cases, the tumor is benign, not cancerous. However, it can cause very high levels of prolactin in the body.  In women, the symptoms typically are changes in menstruation, reduced sex drive, and decreased milk production if you're breastfeeding. In men and women who don't menstruate, it's more difficult to diagnose, but you may have a low libido (due to decreased testosterone). You may also experience breast growth.  If the tumor is left unchecked, you may experience premature aging, headaches, or even vision loss. This medication is the first one that doctors will go to, as it has the fewest side effects and you only need to take it twice a week. It will most likely shrink the benign tumor and bring your prolactin levels down.  This medication can cause nausea and dizziness. The other typical medication is bromocriptine, which can also cause nausea and dizziness. With this medication, your doctor will likely have you increase your dose gradually to lessen the side effects. This medication is cheaper, but you'll need to take it 2-3 times per day.  You may need to take these medications indefinitely, though once the tumor has shrunk and your prolactin levels decrease, you may be able to come off the medication. However, you should not stop either of these medications abruptly. Follow your doctor's tapering instructions. The next treatment for this type of tumor is usually surgery. A surgeon will go in and remove the tumor so that it can't cause issues like increased prolactin levels. If you have another type of pituitary gland tumor instead of a prolactinoma, this may be your doctor's first choice of treatment. Radiation used to be a common treatment for this type of tumor, whether it’s benign or malignant. However, it's less common today, and it's typically a last resort. It can also result in the opposite problem, where your pituitary gland doesn't produce enough hormones.  However, in some cases, radiation may be the only option, if you don't respond to the medication and your tumor can't be operated on safely. In that case, you may need this treatment.  Sometimes, you may only need one treatment, while other tumors may take more treatments. It depends on the size and type of your tumor. The most common side effects is hypopituitarism, where your pituitary gland doesn't produce enough hormones. Very rare side effects can include damage to nearby brain tissue, including lesions or nerve damage.
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