Bromocriptine (By mouth)
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Treats menstrual problems, growth hormone overproduction, Parkinson disease, and pituitary tumors. Also used to stop breast milk production. Also used to help control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. This medicine is an ergot alkaloid.
Drug classes
Antidiabetic, Antiparkinsonian, Prolactin Secretion Inhibitor (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Bromocriptine belongs to the group of medicines known as ergot alkaloids. Bromocriptine blocks the release of a hormone called prolactin from the pituitary gland. Prolactin affects the menstrual cycle and milk production.
Bromocriptine is used to treat certain menstrual problems (e.g., amenorrhea) in women and stops milk production in some men and women who have abnormal milk leakage. It is also used to treat infertility in both men and women that occurs because the body is making too much prolactin.
Bromocriptine is also used to treat acromegaly (overproduction of growth hormone) and pituitary prolactinomas (tumors of the pituitary gland).
Bromocriptine is also used to treat the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, often in combination with levodopa
Bromocriptine is also used together with a proper diet and exercise to treat high blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, bromocriptine is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
To stop milk production after an abortion or miscarriage or in women after a delivery who should not breastfeed for medical reasons.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Capsule, Tablet
Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you. Anything that affects your blood sugar level, such as illness or trauma, can affect how much medicine you need. Tell your doctor about any changes to your health.
Take Cycloset® within 2 hours after you wake up in the morning.
It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.
Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about any special diet or exercise program.
You may not feel the effects of bromocriptine until you have been taking it for 2 to 3 weeks.
Drink extra fluids so you will urinate more often and help prevent kidney problems.
Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
If a dose is missed:
Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Make sure your doctor knows if you also use medicine to lower blood pressure (such as atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide [HCTZ], lisinopril, metoprolol, quinapril, Accupril®, Cozaar®, Diovan®, Lotrel®, Norvasc®, Toprol®, or Zestril®). Tell your doctor if you also use insulin or other diabetes medicine that you take by mouth (such as pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, Actos®, or Avandia®).
Make sure your doctor knows if you also use metoclopramide (Reglan®), octreotide (Sandostatin®), probenecid (Benemid®), NSAID pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, Aleve®, Celebrex®, or Voltaren®), medicine to treat an infection (such as chloramphenicol, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, Bactrim®, Chloromycetin®, Ery-Tab®, Nizoral®, Septra®, or Sporanox®), medicine to treat mental illness (such as clozapine, haloperidol, olanzapine, pimozide, ziprasidone, Clozaril®, Geodon®, Haldol®, Orap®, or Zyprexa®), a phenothiazine medicine (such as prochlorperazine, Compazine®, Mellaril®, Phenergan®, Thorazine®, or Trilafon®), or medicine to treat HIV or AIDS (such as indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, Invirase®, or Viracept®).
Make sure your doctor knows if you use isometheptene, phenylpropanolamine, or sumatriptan (Imitrex®).
Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
When Not To Use
Do not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to bromocriptine or to other ergot medicines (such as ergonovine, ergotamine, Cafergot®, Ergomar®, Ergostat®, or Wigraine®). Bromocriptine should not be taken by women who are breastfeeding or after pregnancy in women with a history of coronary artery disease. You should not use this medicine if you have poorly controlled high blood pressure or high blood pressure during pregnancy. Do not also use Cycloset® if you have migraine headaches with fainting, type 1 diabetes, or diabetic ketoacidosis.
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you are not trying to get pregnant, you should use birth control other than oral contraceptives. You will need a pregnancy test every 4 weeks during the time you do not have a period and every time you miss a monthly period. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine.
Make sure your doctor knows if you have liver disease, kidney disease, heart or blood vessel disease, high or low blood pressure, lung disease, seizures, stomach ulcers or bleeding, or a history of heart attack, stroke, or mental illness. Tell your doctor if you have galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before you have surgery or medical tests.
This medicine may make you dizzy, lightheaded, or drowsy. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Stand or sit up slowly if you are dizzy. This is more likely to happen when you begin to use the medicine or if your dose is increased.
Check with your doctor if you have loss of appetite, lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, severe stomach pain, or weakness while taking this medicine. These may be symptoms of retroperitoneal fibrosis. This is more likely to occur if you receive high doses of this medicine or use it for a long time.
This medicine has caused unusual behavior in some people. Talk with your doctor if you start having intense urges to spend money or gamble or if your sex drive increases while you are using this medicine.
If you have Parkinson disease, it is important that your doctor check your skin for melanoma (skin cancer) regularly.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Change in how much or how often you urinate
Changes in vision
Chest pain or trouble breathing
Confusion, severe headache, or seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches
Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
Seizures
Severe nausea and vomiting
Severe stomach pain, lower back pain, loss of appetite, or weakness
Swelling of your feet, ankles, or lower legs
Unusual tiredness, drowsiness, or weakness
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Mild headache
Mild nausea or vomiting
Stuffy or runny nose
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Cycloset, Parlodel
There may be other brand names for this medicine.