BROMOCRIPTINE

Brand & Generic Names

Parlodel

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Antiparkinsonism

Uses

• Controls Parkinson's disease symptoms such as rigidity, tremors and unsteady gait.
• Treats female infertility.
• Treats acromegaly.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or capsule--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet or open capsule and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same times each day.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Restores chemical balance necessary for normal nerve impulses.

Time lapse before drug works:
2 to 3 weeks to improve; 6 weeks or longer for maximum benefit.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Muscle twitch, spastic eyelid closure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular and rapid pulse, weakness, fainting, confusion, agitation, hallucination, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• If patient is unconscious and not breathing, give mouth-to- mouth breathing. If there is no heartbeat, use cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth breathing (CPR). Don't try to make patient vomit. If you can't get help quickly, take patient to nearest emergency facility.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

In case of overdose, see Overdose section.

Common:

• Mood changes, uncontrollable body movements, diarrhea, nausea.
• Dry mouth, body odor.

Infrequent:

• Fainting, severe dizziness, headache, insomnia, nightmares, rash, itch, vomiting, irregular heartbeat.
• Flushed face, blurred vision, muscle twitching, discolored or dark urine, difficult urination, muscle cramps, appetite loss, abdominal discomfort, nasal congestion, tingling and numbness of hands and feet.
• Constipation, tiredness.

Rare:

• High blood pressure, hallucinations, psychosis.
• Anemia, impotence.
• Hair loss.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to bromocriptine or ergotamine.
• You have taken MAO inhibitors in past 2 weeks.
• You have glaucoma (narrow-angle type).

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have diabetes or epilepsy.
• If you have had high blood pressure, heart or lung disease.
• If you have had liver or kidney disease.
• If you have a peptic ulcer.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug filters into milk. May harm child. Avoid.

Infants & children:
Not recommended if under 15 years old.

Prolonged use:

• May lead to uncontrolled movements of head, face, mouth, tongue, arms or legs.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check blood pressure, x- rays, growth hormone levels.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without doctor's advice until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.

Others:
Expect to start with small doses and increase gradually to lessen frequency and severity of adverse reactions.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Antihypertensives*	May decrease blood pressure.
Antiparkinsonism	Increased bromo-
drugs, other*	criptine effect.
Contraceptives*,	Decreased bromo-
oral	criptine effect.
Ergot alkaloids,	Increased risk of high blood pressure.
Estrogens*	Decreased bromocriptine effect.
Guanfacine	Increased effect of both drugs.
Haloperidol	Decreased bromocriptine effect.
Levodopa	Decreased antiparkinson effect.
MAO inhibitors*	Dangerous rise in blood pressure.
Methyldopa	Decreased bromocriptine effect.
Papaverine	Decreased bromocriptine effect.
Phenothiazines*	Decreased bromocriptine effect.
Progestins	Decreased bromocriptine effect.
Pyridoxine	Decreased bromocriptine effect.
Rauwolfia	Decreased bromocriptine effect.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Decreased alcohol tolerance.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	Decreased bromocriptine effect.
	Avoid.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Increased fatigue, lethargy,
	fainting. Avoid.
Tobacco:	Interferes with absorption. Avoid.