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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Nipple Discharge While On Fluoxetine Along With Levlen ED?

I m on fluoxetine as an antidepressant. 40 mg. I recently went up from 30 to 40 about 2 and a half weeks ago. I m on my period at the moment. I m on leven ed for contraception. I have discharge from my breasts. It is exactly like milk. I had sex three weeks ago. I used a condom as well as being on the pill. Help
Mon, 30 May 2016
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Internal Medicine Specialist 's  Response
Brief Answer:
Both medications you are taking may cause breast discharge.


Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for using HCM.
Fluoxetin is an antidepressant drug with serotoninergic activity that can cause hyperprolactinemia (high levels of prolactin hormon in blood). Levlen D can cause hyperprolactinemia too. Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone secreted by the lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland which role is milk induction and lactation. In patients treated with Fluoxetin only, are rarely reported symptoms due to increased prolactin secretion, while in patients on serotoninergic antidepressants (Fluoxetin) and other medications such as Levlen D, the prolactin levels may be elevated above symptomatic levels or may worsen pre-existing symptoms.
So, you can decide to :
- stop using Levlen D and see if the symptoms will be relieved , or
- change the class of antidepressant drug that you are using, and continue using Levlen D. The atypical antidepressants such as mirtazapine and bupropion, are prolactin neutral.
The second choice is the most appropriate if you don't want to stop the conception control pills.
If the nipple discharge started when you rised up the dosage of Fluoxetin, it could have been a possibility to return to the previous dose of it, 30 mg per day, but i belive that you took 40 mg per day because you did not achived a satisfactory clinical improvement with 30 mg per day. So reducing again the dosage seems not to be a good idea.


Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications. Otherwise please close and rate the answer.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Juarda
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What Causes Nipple Discharge While On Fluoxetine Along With Levlen ED?

Brief Answer: Both medications you are taking may cause breast discharge. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for using HCM. Fluoxetin is an antidepressant drug with serotoninergic activity that can cause hyperprolactinemia (high levels of prolactin hormon in blood). Levlen D can cause hyperprolactinemia too. Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone secreted by the lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland which role is milk induction and lactation. In patients treated with Fluoxetin only, are rarely reported symptoms due to increased prolactin secretion, while in patients on serotoninergic antidepressants (Fluoxetin) and other medications such as Levlen D, the prolactin levels may be elevated above symptomatic levels or may worsen pre-existing symptoms. So, you can decide to : - stop using Levlen D and see if the symptoms will be relieved , or - change the class of antidepressant drug that you are using, and continue using Levlen D. The atypical antidepressants such as mirtazapine and bupropion, are prolactin neutral. The second choice is the most appropriate if you don t want to stop the conception control pills. If the nipple discharge started when you rised up the dosage of Fluoxetin, it could have been a possibility to return to the previous dose of it, 30 mg per day, but i belive that you took 40 mg per day because you did not achived a satisfactory clinical improvement with 30 mg per day. So reducing again the dosage seems not to be a good idea. Hope this is helpful. Let me know if you need more clarifications. Otherwise please close and rate the answer. Kind Regards, Dr. Juarda