Bromocriptine is used alone or together with other medicines to treat Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a disorder that affects movement of a person, causing symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement and impaired balance or walking.
Bromocriptine cannot cure Parkinson's disease but it can improve the quality of life for people who have the disease.
Bromocriptine is also used to treat certain hormonal disorders such as hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin level in the blood) and acromegaly (high growth hormone level in the blood).
Bromocriptine may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Bromocriptine exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take Bromocriptine with food.
If you are taking Bromocriptine for the very first time, take it with a snack just before you sleep. This is to minimise dizziness which may occur with the first dose of Bromocriptine.
Thereafter, you may take Bromocriptine at a time convenient for you. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Bromocriptine must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking Bromocriptine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed otherwise, as stopping it suddenly could worsen your condition.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor or pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- uncontrolled high blood pressure
- high blood pressure during pregnancy or after giving birth
- lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption
as Bromocriptine may not be suitable for you.
Do not take Bromocriptine if you are breastfeeding.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- heart disease
- history of stomach ulcer
- history of mental illness
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant.
Bromocriptine may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Bromocriptine may also cause you to suddenly fall asleep during your daily activities such as eating and watching television. You may not feel drowsy before you fall asleep. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Bromocriptine may cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly when you get up from a sitting or lying down position and you may feel giddy. To minimise this problem, stand up slowly.
Other side effects include any of the following: nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, dizziness, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhoea, nasal congestion, headache, tiredness and leg cramps. These side effects are common especially when you have just started taking Bromocriptine.
Let your doctor know if you:
- experience hallucinations (seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not existent)
- have difficulty controlling your movements
- have breathing difficulties or persistent cough
- pass out blood or black, tarry stools or vomit coffee-ground-like vomitus
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for mood disorder e.g. haloperidol, thioridazine
- blood pressure or heart medicines
- migraine medicines e.g. ergotamine
- antibiotics e.g. josamycin, erythromycin
- medicines for fungal infection e.g. griseofulvin, ketoconazole
- medicine for HIV e.g. ritonavir
- medicines for nausea or vomiting e.g. metoclopromide, domperidone
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Bromocriptine.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicine, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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