Complete dosage information for Prolactin — threshold, light, common, strong, and heavy dose ranges.
Full Prolactin profileImportant Safety Notice
Dosage information is for harm reduction purposes only. Individual sensitivity varies greatly. Always start with the lowest effective dose and work your way up slowly. Never eyeball doses — use a milligram scale.
No dosage data available for Prolactin. This substance has an unpredictable dose-response curve and publishing specific dosage ranges could be dangerous.
## Can Prolactin Be "Overdosed"? Prolactin is an endogenous hormone, not a substance that can be taken in excess through ingestion. There is no scenario of acute prolactin "overdose" in the conventional sense. However, pathologically elevated prolactin levels -- whether from prolactinoma, medication, or other causes -- produce a constellation of symptoms that can be thought of as the consequences of chronic prolactin excess. ## Prolactin Levels and Clinical Significance | Level (ng/mL) | Significance | |---|---| | 3-13 (males) / up to 25 (females) | Normal physiological range | | 25-100 | Mild elevation -- may be medication-induced, stress, macroprolactinemia, hypothyroidism, or microadenoma | | 100-200 | Moderate elevation -- likely microadenoma or medication effect. Imaging recommended | | 200+ | Strong suspicion of macroadenoma. MRI of the pituitary is essential | | 1,000+ | Almost always indicates a large prolactinoma | ## Symptoms of Severely Elevated Prolactin - Complete loss of libido and sexual function - Amenorrhea (women) or severe hypogonadism (men) - Galactorrhea (spontaneous breast milk production in either sex) - Headaches (from pituitary tumor mass effect) - Visual field defects -- classically bitemporal hemianopia from optic chiasm compression - Fatigue, depression, cognitive impairment - Osteopenia or osteoporosis from chronic hypogonadism ## When to Seek Emergency Care - Sudden severe headache with visual loss -- may indicate pituitary apoplexy (hemorrhage into a pituitary tumor), which is a medical emergency - Acute visual field changes - Sudden onset of neurological symptoms ## The More Common "Overdose" -- Crashed Prolactin Ironically, the more relevant clinical problem in the substance use community is prolactin levels that are too low, typically from excessive dopamine agonist use (particularly cabergoline in the bodybuilding context). Prolactin levels below 2-3 ng/mL are associated with: - Anxiety and panic-like symptoms - Emotional blunting and anhedonia - Sleep disruption (prolactin has a role in REM sleep regulation) - Immune dysregulation - In women, difficulty with lactation postpartum The message in online bodybuilding communities -- "crashed my prolactin on caber, feel terrible" -- is a well-documented phenomenon. Prolactin is not a hormone you want at zero.
