what increases prolactin
1 Breast stimulation can modestly increase the amount of prolactin in the blood. 2  Chest wall trauma (for example, an injury from a car steering wheel after an accident) can lead to increased levels of prolactin.  Marijuana use is also a well documented cause of elevated levels of prolactin.
Prolactinoma - What else can cause elevated prolactin levels? There are a few conditions other than prolactinomas that may be associated with hyperprolactinemia. As prolactin is regulated by dopamine , medications that interfere with this substance in the brain can cause elevated prolactin levels. Drugs prescribed for psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders may raise prolactin levels to greater than 200 ng/ ml. Other drugs that can cause mild elevations of prolactin levels include estrogens and verapamil, a drug used to treat high blood pressure. An underactive thyroid or inadequate thyroid hormone replacement can also raise prolactin levels, as can kidney disease, pregnancy, stress, and chest trauma.