How quickly should drug induced gyne reverse after stopping the drug?

[p4ul83]

I had surgery to remove gland tissue 2 years ago and all has been fine until my doctor prescribed amitriptyline for my frequent headaches.

I took 50mg a day for about 3 months but then noticed gyne was starting and after going through it all before immediately stopped the tablets. Its now been a month and the gyne is still growing. I am waiting for blood test results for hormone levels but anybody know how long it should take to stop or reverse after stopping the medication that caused it?

I know its a small window of opportunity between it starting and being able to reverse it and im a bit worried its still growing now the tablets have been stopped.

[thetodd]

you usually have a time frame of two years before i think. Once you have the blood test results back, they will prescribe estrogen blockers (usually tamoxifen) which should stop growth and hopefully reduce the size of the glands.

[p4ul83]

Many thanks for the info, I really hope the doctor will prescribe it and not send me to a specialist adding more time for it to get any worse.

I didn't think it took 2 years to become stable or permanent, for some reason i thought it was a matter of a few months. I assume the sooner the treatment starts the more chance there is of positive outcome though.

[Paa_Paw]

The area swells and becomes more sensitive before new tissue starts to grow. If the offending drug is withdrawn at this point, then the area will slowly return to normal. It is generally advisable to wait up to two years.

Actual tissue growth does not diminish.

[p4ul83]

Thanks, when you say normally wait for two years do you mean its a very slow process and it would be quite normal to still be swollen and 'growing' at a month to two months after stopping the drug?

Then over the next two years there should be a slight improvement before it settles and just the hard tissue will remain without swelling or pain?

[thetodd]

Wait till you see the doc, because i dont want to tell you any misinformation. From what ive read in the past, you've discovered it early enough to treat it hopefully! Ive read stuff about glands being reversed to the normal state but this is stuff ive read online.

[p4ul83]

Blood tests have come back and doctor has said i am well within normal ranges. Cant get appointment to discuss in detail for another week but i am starting to wonder if its a cyst or other type of lump on the left side as it seems to be a bit higher than the center of nipple.

Going to push for a scan and take it from there as cant see them prescribing tamoxifen if hormone levels are normal.

[tpuk]

Blood tests have come back and doctor has said i am well within normal ranges. Cant get appointment to discuss in detail for another week but i am starting to wonder if its a cyst or other type of lump on the left side as it seems to be a bit higher than the center of nipple.

Going to push for a scan and take it from there as cant see them prescribing tamoxifen if hormone levels are normal.

RE: the blood tests

Ask them for the figures, the references ranges & what they tested. For example my T level is 12 on a scale of 9-30. I would say that is low - but a GP & endocrinologist might say thats normal.

[p4ul83]

13.9 test, 327 prolactin and 96 oestadiol. All within normal range although prolactin is a little high. Amytriptiline is known to raise prolactin levels and this is whats causing the lumps under nips.

No sign of it going away - it's been 2 months since stopping the tablets. My concern is that Tamoxifen simply stops the binding process so will prevent further growth and maybe even reduce the gyne a little but as soon as you stop them the 'free' estrogen will bind giving a rebound effect making the problem worse.

Anybody know a good way to prevent rebound after tamoxifen?? Docs are simply saying levels are normal so won't help me. Was planning on 40mg a day for a few days then 20mg for 2 weeks, 10mg for 2 weeks and 5mg for 2 weeks to taper it down and avoid rebound? 

[about2change]

I've heard combinations of tamox and novla but honestly mate it just seems to risky unless YOU know what you're doing.. either find a doctor who is willing to help or find some sort of steroid guru who knows the ins and outs hormones

[p4ul83]

Quick update as i'm sure many people have considered tamoxifen. I did get some although not from docs and took 40mg per day for a week and noticed a reduction in the lump after just 5 days. I stopped taking it due to feeling a bit  spaced out and getting hot flushes but the lump continued to reduce and after another week all the tenderness and puffy nips had gone.

Tamoxifen in my opinion is great for drug induced gyne in early stages but once its been there for more than a year i doubt it would be much good. Also this was prolactin gyne rather than the more common hormonal reasons.

It could be that after stopping the drug causing the high prolactin i was returning to normal anyway and it just sped up process but for people in early stages maybe try tamoxifen for a few weeks but look into the dangers and possible side effects before trying it as altering hormone levels in the short term can lead to a big rebound but this didn't happen to me.