Bromocriptine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

Use

What is the drug bromocriptine (bromocriptine) for?

Bromocriptine (bromocriptine) is an anticholinergic drug that works by blocking the body's natural substance, acetylcholine. This drug is used to treat the symptoms of several certain health conditions, namely:

Hyperprolactinemia

Hyperprolactinemia is a condition when the body produces too much prolactin. This disorder will cause women to experience amenorrhea, fertility problems, or hypogonadism.

Bromocriptine drugs play a role in lowering prolactin levels that are too high. Even so, the drug bromocriptine is only able to help normalize prolactin hormone levels, not treat the cause of the disorder.

Parkinson's disease

In patients with Parkinson's, the drug bromocriptine will treat stiff leg muscles and relieve tremors.

This drug can also make it easier for Parkinson's patients to walk than before. Bromocriptine can also reduce immobile conditions (on-off syndrome).

Usually, bromocriptine will be combined with other drugs, such as levodopa, to relieve other symptoms.

Acromegaly

It is also used alone or with other medications to reduce high growth hormone levels (acromegaly).

Bromocriptine is an oral medication that is available in tablet and capsule form. Bromocriptine is included in prescription drugs, so you can get it at the pharmacy only by prescription.

How is bromocriptine (bromocriptine) used?

There are several things you should do when using bromocriptine, including:

• Use this medicine according to the directions given by the doctor.
• Do not reduce or increase the number of doses given by your doctor.
• Do not use it for more than the time prescribed by the doctor.
• Follow your doctor's instructions if the dose is increased or decreased.
• Use this remedy regularly to get its benefits. To help you remember, use it at the same time every day.
• Take this medication with food, usually once a day, taken within two hours of waking up.
• Your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase the dose to find the right dose for you.
• This medicine often causes dizziness, especially after taking the first dose. Lie down immediately after taking your first dose to reduce the risk of injury from falls.
• While using this medicine you should always have blood tests done, so visit your doctor regularly.
• If using this medication, do not change brands without your doctor's knowledge because the bromocriptine in two different brands of drugs may have different effects on blood sugar control.
• When you stop taking medication, you should keep using this drug regularly and reduce the dose gradually as directed by your doctor to help prevent withdrawal reactions. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Contact your doctor immediately if the symptoms of the disease do not improve and they get worse.

How to store this drug?

There are several ways to store the drug that you must comply with, such as:

• Store this medication at room temperature. Do not be in a place that is too cold or too hot.
• Keep this medication away from exposure to sunlight or direct light.
• Keep this medication out of reach of children and pets.
• Do not store this medication in the bathroom or other damp places.
• Do not also store this drug until it freezes in the freezer.
• Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules.
• Always pay attention to the drug storage rules listed on the packaging.

If you are no longer using this medicine or if the medicine has expired, discard this medicine immediately according to the procedure for disposing of the medicine.

One of them, do not mix this drug with household waste. Do not also throw this drug in drains such as toilets.

Ask the pharmacist or staff from the local waste disposal agency about the proper and safe way to dispose of drugs for environmental health.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of bromocriptine (bromocriptine) for adults?

Usual adult dose for hyperprolactinemia

• Initial: 1.25 milligram (mg) 2.5 mg orally every day.
• Titration: Add 2.5 mg orally, as long as tolerable, for a medicinal dose every two to seven days.
• Maintenance: 2.5 mg to 15 mg orally every day.

Usual adult dose for acromegaly

• Baseline: 1.25 mg to 2.5 mg orally once a day, with meals, at bedtime for three days.
• Titration: Add 1.25 mg to 2.5 mg orally, as long as tolerated, for a medicinal dose every three to seven days.
• Maintenance: 20 mg to 30 mg orally every day.

The maximum dose should not exceed 100 mg / day.

Usual adult dose for Parkinson's disease

• Initial: 1.25 mg twice daily with meals.
• Titration: Add 2.5 mg / day, with meals, to the dosing regimen every 14 to 28 days.
• Maximum dose: 100 mg / day.

Usual adult dose for type 2 diabetes

For Cycloset (R), the trade name for bromocriptine:

• Initial: 0.8 mg orally daily, used within two hours of waking up in the morning with a meal
• Titration: Increase 0.8 mg per week as long as tolerated
• Maintenance: 1.6-4.8 mg orally daily, taken within two hours of waking up in the morning with food

The maximum dose should not exceed 4.8 mg daily.

What is the dose of bromocriptine (bromocriptine) for children?

Usual children's dosage for hyperprolactinemia

11 to 15 years old:

• Initial: 1.25 mg to 2.5 mg orally every day.
• Maintenance: 2.5 mg to 10 mg orally every day.

In what dosage is bromocriptine (bromocriptine) available?

Capsule, Oral:

• Parlodel: 5 mg
• Generic: 5 mg

Tablet, Oral:

• Cycloset: 0.8 mg
• Parlodel: 2.5 mg
• Generic: 2.5 mg

Side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to bromocriptine (bromocriptine)?

Common side effects experienced when using bromocriptine are:

• Mild headaches
• Dizzy
• Feel tired
• Mild sleepiness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach ache
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• A cold or numb feeling in your finger
• Dry mouth
• Nasal congestion

Serious side effects

Stop using the drug and contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• Fainting
• Continuous colds
• Dark colored stools
• Vomiting blood
• The vomit is dark in color and concentrated
• Swelling of the feet, ankles, or calves
• Seizures
• Severe headache
• Blurred eyesight so you can't see clearly
• Difficulty speaking
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Chest pain
• Hand, back, neck, or jaw pain
• Gasping for breath
• Confusion
• Hallucinating
• Low blood sugar (headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, trouble concentrating)
• Uncontrolled muscle movements, loss of balance or coordination
• Dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, seizures)

Not everyone experiences the side effects mentioned above. There may be some side effects not listed above.

If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions & Warnings

What should be known before using bromocriptine?

Before using bromocriptine, there are a number of things you should know and do, as follows.

• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to bromocriptine or other ergot drugs, such as Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot, D.H.E. 45, Migranal, and Methergine.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products that you are using or will be using.
• Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure or migraine headaches that cause fainting. Your doctor may tell you not to use bromocriptine.
• Tell your doctor about using bromocriptine, especially under the brand name Cycloset, if you are going to have surgery, including dental surgery.
• Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking bromocriptine. Alcohol can make the side effects of bromocriptine worse. Ask your doctor what to do if you are sick, have an infection or fever, are under unusual stress, or are injured. This condition can affect your blood sugar and the amount of bromocriptine (Cycloset) you need.
• If you are going to use this medicine, do not breastfeed.
• Bromocriptine can make you drowsy and cause you to suddenly fall asleep. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you,
• Bromocriptine can cause dizziness, nausea, sweating, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.

Is this drug safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using bromocriptine in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

These drugs are included in pregnancy risk category B according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Meanwhile, breastfeeding mothers should not use this drug, because bromocriptine can change the production or composition of breast milk (ASI). If an alternative to this medicine is not prescribed, and you must use this medicine, it is best to stop breastfeeding for a while.

Interaction

What other medicines may interact with bromocriptine (bromocriptine)?

Bromocriptine might interact with other drugs that you are currently using. This can change how the drug works, or even increase the chance of side effects.

According to MedlinePlus, this drug may interact with the following medicines:

• antifungal medication
• antihidtamine drugs
• blood thinners (warfarin)
• HIV medicine
• diabetes medication
• macrolide antibiotics
• antidepressant drugs

Can food or alcohol interact with bromocriptine (bromocriptine)?

Certain drugs, including bromocriptine, should not be used when eating certain foods because drug-food interactions can occur.

Smoking tobacco or consuming alcohol with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur.

Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking red grapefruit juice while using the medicine unless your doctor allows it.

Grapefruit and grapefruit drugs can increase the risk of interactions. Consult your doctor and pharmacist for more info.

What health conditions can interact with this drug?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems:

• Coronary artery disease or other serious cardiovascular disorders, including history
• Hypertension (high blood pressure), which is not controlled
• Pregnancy. Bromocriptine should not be used in patients with this condition unless necessary
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (acids that form when your body is in the blood)
• Syncopal (fainting) migraine headaches
• Type I diabetes -Cycloset® should not be used in patients with this condition
• Fever
• Infection
• Surgery
• Trauma - these conditions can cause temporary problems with blood sugar control and your doctor may want to treat you temporarily with insulin
• Galactose intolerance (rare genetic disorder)
• Glucose-galactose malabsorption (rare genetic disorder)
• Lactase deficiency (rare genetic disorder), which is severe. The use of bromocriptine is not recommended in patients with this condition.
• Heart attack, including history
• Heart disease or blood vessel disease
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Lung disease
• Mental illness (eg, psychosis), including history
• Seizures, including history
• Stomach ulcers or bleeding, including history
• Stroke, including history. Use with caution, it might make the condition worse
• Liver disease. Use with caution, the effect can be increased due to slower cleansing of the drug from the body.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of emergency or overdose, call an ambulance (118/119) or immediately go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.