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| Drug Class: What is Bromocriptine ? an why is it prescribed? |
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| Bromocriptine mesylate comes from a group of medicines known as ergot alkaloids.
Bromocriptine mesylate blocks the release of a hormone called prolactin that affects the menstrual cycle and breast milk production.
Bromocriptine mesylate is useful in treating menstrual and fertility problems, and symptoms caused by cancers (adenomas) that raise prolactin levels in the body.
Bromocriptine mesylate can be used to treat Parkinsons disease. The drug is also helpful in treating acromegaly (excessive growth hormone). |
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| Bromocriptine Mechanism: How does Bromocriptine work? |
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| Bromocriptine mesylate is a type of medicine called a dopamine agonist. Bromocriptine mesylate works by stimulating dopamine receptors in the brain. This can have several results, hence Bromocriptine mesylate has several different uses.
Bromocriptine mesylate is mainly used to treat disorders that result from high levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. Bromocriptine mesylate decreases the production of prolactin from the pituitary by stimulating dopamine receptors.
A high prolactin level is associated with several conditions. Over-production of this hormone can cause abnormal production of breast milk in both men and women (galactorrhoea), as well as suppression of the sexual glands (hypogonadism), which can result in infertility. High prolactin levels are also associated with some breast and menstrual disorders. Reducing prolactin levels with Bromocriptine mesylate can therefore improve these conditions.
Bromocriptine mesylate is also sometimes used to prevent or stop milk production for medical reasons following childbirth, miscarriage or abortion. Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk, hence decreasing the production of prolactin with Bromocriptine mesylate stops milk production.
A further use of Bromocriptine mesylate is to reduce prolactin production from a type of tumour of the pituitary gland, called a prolactinoma.
Bromocriptine mesylates action on dopamine receptors also decreases the production of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. This is useful for treating conditions where growth hormone is overproduced, such as acromegaly.
Lastly, Bromocriptine mesylate can be used to treat Parkinsons disease. The neurotransmitter dopamine is known to be reduced or absent in the brains of people with Parkinsons disease, and this is thought to be the cause of the disease symptoms. Stimulating dopamine receptors with Bromocriptine mesylate is similar to replacing the dopamine in the brain, and this reduces some of the symptoms of Parkinsons disease. |
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| Bromocriptine Dosage: How should you take Bromocriptine |
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| Take Bromocriptine mesylate tablets or tablets by mouth. Swallow the tablets or tablets with a drink of water. It is best to take Bromocriptine mesylate with food to help with symptoms such as upset stomach.
Adults
Bromocriptine mesylate is available as 2.5-milligram tablets and 5-milligram tablets.
Excess Prolactin Hormone
If you are being treated for conditions associated with excess prolactin, such as menstrual problems, with or without excessive milk production, infertility, or pituitary gland tumors, the usual starting dose of Bromocriptine mesylate is one-half to 1 tablet daily. Your doctor may add a tablet every 3 to 7 days, until the treatment works. The usual longer-term dose is 5 to 7.5 milligrams per day and ranges from 2.5 to 15 milligrams per day.
Growth Hormone Overproduction
Treatment for the overproduction of growth hormones is usually one-half to 1 tablet of Bromocriptine mesylate with food at bedtime for 3 days. Your doctor may add one-half to 1 tablet every 3 to 7 days. The usual treatment dose varies from 20 to 30 milligrams of Bromocriptine mesylate per day. The dose should not exceed 100 milligrams per day. Your doctor will do a monthly re-evaluation.
Parkinsons Disease
Bromocriptine mesylate taken in combination with levodopa may provide additional treatment benefits if you are currently taking high doses of levodopa, are beginning to develop a tolerance to levodopa, or are experiencing end of dose failure on levodopa therapy.
The usual starting dose of Bromocriptine mesylate is one-half tablet twice a day with meals. Your doctor will monitor your dose at 2-week intervals. If necessary, your doctor may increase the dose every 14 to 28 days by 1 tablet of Bromocriptine mesylate per day.
Children
The safety and effectiveness of Bromocriptine mesylate have not been established in children.
If you miss a Bromocriptine mesylate dose
If you miss a dose of Bromocriptine mesylate, take it as soon as you can. If it is more than 4 hours since your dose was due, wait until your next dose. Do not take double or extra doses of Bromocriptine mesylate.
Bromocriptine mesylate Overdose
Bromocriptine mesylate overdose can lead to serious consequences. Seek medical emergency immediately.
Symptoms of Bromocriptine mesylate overdose include
• confusion,
• constipation,
• delusions,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• feeling unwell,
• hallucinations,
• lethargy,
• nausea,
• pallor,
• severely low blood pressure,
• sweating,
• vomiting,
• yawning repeatedly
Bromocriptine mesylate Storage instructions
Keep Bromocriptine mesylate out of reach of children.
Store the Bromocriptine mesylate tablets at room temperature 15-30°C (59-86°F), away from direct heat and light. Do not freeze. Keep the prescription bottle tightly closed. Throw away any unused amount of Bromocriptine mesylate after the expiration date.
Preparations: Tablet- 1.25mg, 2.5mg, 5mg |
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| Possible food and drug interactions when taking Bromocriptine |
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| It is important to tell your doctor what medicines you are taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with Bromocriptine mesylate. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking Bromocriptine mesylate, to ensure that the combination is safe.
Women taking Bromocriptine mesylate in the few weeks following childbirth, miscarriage or abortion should avoid taking ergot alkaloid medicines such as ergotamine.
Macrolide-type antibiotics such as erythromycin may increase the level of Bromocriptine mesylate in the blood.
The following medicines may reduce the prolactin-lowering effect of Bromocriptine mesylate:
• antipsychotic medicines (these may also reduce the anti-parkinson effect of Bromocriptine mesylate)
• metoclopramide
• domperidone. |
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| Special information on Bromocriptine |
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| Most Important Fact about Bromocriptine mesylate
Notify your doctor immediately if you develop a severe headache that does not let up or continues to get worse. It could be a warning of the possibility of other dangerous reactions, including seizure, stroke, or heart attack.
Bromocriptine mesylate precautions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Bromocriptine mesylate should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Since it suppresses lactation, mothers who wish to breast-feed should not use Bromocriptine mesylate. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Special warnings about Bromocriptine mesylate
Some people may experience dizziness caused by low blood pressure in the first few days of taking Bromocriptine mesylate. This can be relieved by lying down until the symptoms pass. If affected you should avoid performing potentially hazardous tasks such as driving or operating machinery.
Bromocriptine mesylate can cause sleepiness and on rare occasions people have experienced a sudden onset of sleep during their daily activities. In some cases this occurred without any warning signs. Although this is rare, you should exercise caution when driving or performing other potentially hazardous activities. People who have experienced sleepiness or an episode of sudden onset of sleep while taking Bromocriptine mesylate should not drive or operate machinery.
Dizziness and drowsiness can be made worse by drinking alcohol. It is recommended that you avoid drinking alcohol while taking Bromocriptine mesylate.
High blood prolactin levels can have several different causes, one of which is a tumour of the pituitary gland. For this reason, it is important that anyone treated for high prolactin levels is investigated by a specialist to exclude the possibility of a tumour and get the appropriate treatment if necessary.
Equally important is that women taking Bromocriptine mesylate for breast disease or pain are also investigated for the possibility of breast cancer.
Women taking Bromocriptine mesylate for long periods of time should have regular gynecological exams, usually every year (six-monthly for post-menopausal women).
In rare cases serious adverse effects have occurred in women given Bromocriptine mesylate to stop milk production within six weeks following childbirth, miscarriage or abortion. These effects include increased blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, seizures and psychiatric disorders. For this reason your blood pressure should be monitored carefully, especially in the first few days of treatment, and you should tell your doctor immediately if you experience dizziness, flushing, a persistent headache, disturbances with your eyesight or any other unusual symptoms during treatment.
There have been a few cases of stomach ulcers or bleeding from the stomach or intestine during treatment with Bromocriptine mesylate. You should inform your doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, indigestion or blood in your stools during treatment, particularly if you have had a peptic ulcer in the past.
On rare occasions people taking Bromocriptine mesylate have developed a fibrous thickening of the lining that covers some of the internal organs including kidneys, the heart or the lungs. This is called a fibrotic reaction. You should tell your doctor immediately if you get a persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest, lower back or pelvic pain, swollen ankles or abdominal pain or tenderness so that this can be ruled out. |
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| Bromocriptine side effects |
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| Why Bromocriptine mesylate should not be prescribed?
People with symptoms or a history of serious psychiatric illness should not use Bromocriptine mesylate.
Bromocriptine mesylate should not be used by women with high blood pressure immediately after or in the first few weeks following childbirth, miscarriage or abortion.
Bromocriptine mesylate should not be used if you have a history of disease involving the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease).
Bromocriptine mesylate should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using Bromocriptine mesylate and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Possible Bromocriptine mesylate Side effects
More common side effects of Bromocriptine mesylate may include:
• dizziness or lightheadedness,
• nausea
Less common side effects of Bromocriptine mesylate may include:
• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• drowsiness or tiredness,
• dry mouth,
• leg cramps at night,
• loss of appetite,
• mental depression,
• stomach pain,
• stuffy nose,
• tingling or pain in fingers and toes when exposed to cold,
• vomiting
Rare side effects of Bromocriptine mesylate may include:
• abnormal heart rhythm,
• blurred vision or temporary blindness,
• cold feet,
• fast or slow heartbeat,
• hair loss,
• heavy-headedness,
• increase in blood pressure,
• lower back pain,
• muscle cramps,
• numbness,
• pale face,
• paranoia,
• prickling or tingling,
• reduced tolerance to cold,
• severe or continuous headache,
• shortness of breath,
• sluggishness,
• tingling of ears or fingers |
Drug Class: What is Bromocriptine ? an why is it prescribed?
