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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by anonymous on April 20, 1999, at 13:09:25
This is one for the ladies, sorry guys!
I have been lactating for the past two years now and only today when Patty mentioned lactating did it occur to me that it could be the Effexor.
It has been so bad that I started getting abscesses on my breasts caused by the milk clogging the pores of the tissue. The doctors, especially male seem to just snicker and give me antibacterial topical creams. The women medical professions scold me for expressing the milk and say that this will just make it continue, but I would rather squeeze it out than get more scars on my breasts from the infections. My self esteem and body image is bad enough with the depression. I can even "feel" when it is too full and time to squeeze.
Does anyone else have this bizarre lifestyle and is there any help?
Posted by andrew on April 20, 1999, at 15:14:59
In reply to Antidepressants and Lactating, posted by anonymous on April 20, 1999, at 13:09:25
> This is one for the ladies, sorry guys!
>
> I have been lactating for the past two years now and only today when Patty mentioned lactating did it occur to me that it could be the Effexor.
>
> It has been so bad that I started getting abscesses on my breasts caused by the milk clogging the pores of the tissue. The doctors, especially male seem to just snicker and give me antibacterial topical creams. The women medical professions scold me for expressing the milk and say that this will just make it continue, but I would rather squeeze it out than get more scars on my breasts from the infections. My self esteem and body image is bad enough with the depression. I can even "feel" when it is too full and time to squeeze.
>
> Does anyone else have this bizarre lifestyle and is there any help?Read below, it is an abstract of of the Medline database. The abstract seems to be saying that raised prolactin levels (prolactin is a hormone responsible for lactation) are a not so uncommon side effect of effexor and SSRIs.
Title
Breast enlargement during chronic antidepressant therapy.
Author
Amsterdam JD; Garcia-Espa~na F; Goodman D; Hooper M; Hornig-Rohan M
Address
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Source
J Affect Disord, 46(2):151-6 1997 Nov
Abstract
Recent reports of mammoplasia during selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy suggested that this side effect may be
more common than previously reported. We examined 59 women receiving > or = 2 months treatment with an SSRI or venlafaxine
for changes in breast size in relation to menopausal status, weight gain and duration of drug therapy. Serum prolactin, estradiol and
beta-hCG were also measured before and during treatment in a subgroup of patients. Twenty-three out of 59 patients (39%) reported
some degree of mammoplasia. Significantly more SSRI vs. venlafaxine patients reported mammoplasia (p < 0.01). Eighty-four
percent with mammoplasia had weight gain vs. 30% without mammoplasia (p < 0.001). The rate of mammoplasia was unrelated to
age, menopausal status or duration of treatment. Serum prolactin increased during treatment in the paroxetine subgroup (p < 0.03). In
conclusion, antidepressant-induced mammoplasia may be more common than previously expected.
Posted by anonymous on April 20, 1999, at 18:28:01
In reply to Re: Antidepressants and Lactating, posted by andrew on April 20, 1999, at 15:14:59
Thanks for the information. I just found this website last week and knowing that others feel the same way and that people like you care enough to try to help has kept me from "doing something drastic" to stop the pain.
I am amazed that doctors, expecially my psychiatrist, don't even check MEDLine and this article was from 1997. I have experienced enlargement as well. So much that I have considered breast reduction.
I, in fact, spent two years working as a lab tech in an endocrinology lab at NIH and with my knowledge of hormones have not been able to get my HMO to do the proper tests and to find any solutions to the problem.
It is very frustrating not being able to get medical help for this.
Posted by andrew on April 21, 1999, at 10:37:02
In reply to Re: Antidepressants and Lactating, posted by anonymous on April 20, 1999, at 18:28:01
> Thanks for the information. I just found this website last week and knowing that others feel the same way and that people like you care enough to try to help has kept me from "doing something drastic" to stop the pain.
>
> I am amazed that doctors, expecially my psychiatrist, don't even check MEDLine and this article was from 1997. I have experienced enlargement as well. So much that I have considered breast reduction.
>
> I, in fact, spent two years working as a lab tech in an endocrinology lab at NIH and with my knowledge of hormones have not been able to get my HMO to do the proper tests and to find any solutions to the problem.
>
> It is very frustrating not being able to get medical help for this.I'm sorry that your having to go through all this. I hope somehow and someway you are able to get better medical direction.
Posted by Betsy on April 26, 1999, at 20:17:19
In reply to Antidepressants and Lactating, posted by anonymous on April 20, 1999, at 13:09:25
> This is one for the ladies, sorry guys!
>
> I have been lactating for the past two years
>now and only today when Patty mentioned
>lactating did it occur to me that it could be
>the Effexor.
>
> It has been so bad that I started getting
>abscesses on my breasts caused by the milk
>clogging the pores of the tissue. The doctors,
>especially male seem to just snicker and give
>me antibacterial topical creams. The women
>medical professions scold me for expressing the
>milk and say that this will just make it
>continue, but I would rather squeeze it out
>than get more scars on my breasts from the
>infections. My self esteem and body image is
>bad enough with the depression. I can even
>"feel" when it is too full and time to squeeze.
>
> Does anyone else have this bizarre lifestyle
> and is there any help?I've had this since 1990. And like you, I've got
scars on what used to be scarless breasts (and
its embarassing when one's starting a new relationship!)
and like you I can feel when the pressure builds up.I haven't had enough breast growth to make a major
difference in bra size, though I wonder what would
happen if I didn't express the milk.I was told by a female doctor not to express also.
I didn't for a few months, but then one day a gentle
touch in the shower caused a squirting for a distance.I was glad I was in the shower and not at work
leaning against something when that happened.Potentially VERY embarassing.
There's nothing I know of that can be done about this.
Its a side effect I accept to live with, as it is much
better than having the depression.Sorry I don't have good news, other than to say you're
not alone!Betsy
Posted by Susan on November 27, 2000, at 22:07:08
In reply to Re: Antidepressants and Lactating, posted by Betsy on April 26, 1999, at 20:17:19
> > This is one for the ladies, sorry guys!
> >
> > I have been lactating for the past two years
> >now and only today when Patty mentioned
> >lactating did it occur to me that it could be
> >the Effexor.
> >
> > It has been so bad that I started getting
> >abscesses on my breasts caused by the milk
> >clogging the pores of the tissue. The doctors,
> >especially male seem to just snicker and give
> >me antibacterial topical creams. The women
> >medical professions scold me for expressing the
> >milk and say that this will just make it
> >continue, but I would rather squeeze it out
> >than get more scars on my breasts from the
> >infections. My self esteem and body image is
> >bad enough with the depression. I can even
> >"feel" when it is too full and time to squeeze.
> >
> > Does anyone else have this bizarre lifestyle
> > and is there any help?
>
> I've had this since 1990. And like you, I've got
> scars on what used to be scarless breasts (and
> its embarassing when one's starting a new relationship!)
> and like you I can feel when the pressure builds up.
>
> I haven't had enough breast growth to make a major
> difference in bra size, though I wonder what would
> happen if I didn't express the milk.
>
> I was told by a female doctor not to express also.
> I didn't for a few months, but then one day a gentle
> touch in the shower caused a squirting for a distance.
>
> I was glad I was in the shower and not at work
> leaning against something when that happened.
>
> Potentially VERY embarassing.
>
> There's nothing I know of that can be done about this.
> Its a side effect I accept to live with, as it is much
> better than having the depression.
>
> Sorry I don't have good news, other than to say you're
> not alone!
>
> BetsyI also have a lactation sort of problem. Before I gave birth to quadruplets I was a 34DDD, but now 2 years after the pregnancy I have grown to a 35MMM. I even have to put tape on my nipples to prevent leakage. Even the slightest touch will cause my breasts to leak milk. I don't really have any pain with it anymore except for the need to buy a bigger bra every month. I have actually begun to like having big natural breasts. I just hope you can find the answer to your problem.
Susan
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