Cabergoline for men & women: Dostinex (Know Your Medicine)

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In post-partum studies with cabergoline, blood pressure decreases were mostly asymptomatic and were frequently observed on a single occasion 2 to 4 days after treatment. Since decreases in blood pressure are frequently noted during the puerperium, independently of drug therapy, it is likely that many of the observed decreases in blood pressure after cabergoline administration were not drug-induced. However, periodic monitoring of blood pressure, particularly during the first few days after cabergoline administration, is advised. The weekly dose may be given as a single administration or divided into two or more doses per week according to patient tolerability. Division of the weekly dose into multiple administrations is advised when doses higher than 1 mg per week are to be given since the tolerability of doses greater than 1 mg taken as a single weekly dose has been evaluated only in a few patients. All patients must undergo a cardiovascular evaluation, including echocardiogram to assess the potential presence of asymptomatic valvular disease. It is also appropriate to perform baseline investigations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate or other inflammatory markers, lung function/chest X-ray and renal function prior to initiation of therapy. In patients with valvular regurgitation, it is not known whether cabergoline treatment might worsen the underlying disease. If fibrotic valvular disease is detected, the patient should not be treated with cabergoline (see section 4.3). This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Altered or increased sexual interest and behaviour of significant concern to you or to others, for example, an increased sexual drive.

Since cabergoline exerts its therapeutic effect by direct stimulation of dopamine receptors, it should not be concurrently administered with drugs which have dopamine antagonist activity (such as phenothiazines, butyrophenones, thioxanthenes, metoclopramide) since these might reduce the therapeutic effect of cabergoline. Since the tolerability of dopaminergic agents is improved when administered with food, it is recommended that cabergoline be taken with meals. Because pregnancy might occur prior to reinitiation of menses, a pregnancy test is recommended at least every four weeks during the amenorrhoeic period and, once menses are reinitiated, every time a menstrual period is delayed by more than three days. Women who wish to avoid pregnancy should be advised to use mechanical contraception during treatment with cabergoline and after discontinuation of cabergoline until recurrence of anovulation. As a precautionary measure, women who become pregnant should be monitored to detect signs of pituitary enlargement since expansion of pre-existing pituitary tumours may occur during gestation.If the headache is severe or continues, speak with your doctor straightaway; otherwise, ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller The pharmacokinetics of cabergoline seem to be dose-independent both in healthy volunteers (doses of 0.5-1.5 mg) and parkinsonian patients (steady state of daily doses up to 7 mg/day). For suppression of established lactation the recommended therapeutic dosage regimen is 0.25 mg (one-half 0.5 mg tablet) every 12 hours for two days (1 mg total dose). This dosage regimen has been demonstrated to be better tolerated than the single dose regimen in women electing to suppress lactation having a lower incidence of adverse events, in particular of hypotensive symptoms. Cardiac failure: cases of valvular and pericardial fibrosis have often manifested as cardiac failure. Therefore, valvular fibrosis (and constrictive pericarditis) should be excluded if such symptoms occur.

On the basis of the elimination half-life, steady state conditions should be achieved after 4 weeks, as confirmed by the mean peak plasma levels of cabergoline obtained after a single dose (37 ± 8 pg/ml) and after a 4 week multiple regimen (101 ± 43 pg/ml). The recommended initial dosage of cabergoline is 0.5 mg per week given in one or two (one-half of one 0.5 mg tablet) doses (e.g. on Monday and Thursday) per week. The weekly dose should be increased gradually, preferably by adding 0.5 mg per week at monthly intervals until an optimal therapeutic response is achieved. The therapeutic dosage is usually 1 mg per week and ranges from 0.25 mg to 2 mg per week. Doses of cabergoline up to 4.5 mg per week have been used in hyperprolactinaemic patients. Advise women of child-bearing age to use non-hormonal methods of contraception during treatment and for one month thereafter. If pregnancy is confirmed during therapy, then cabergoline should be discontinued to minimise foetal exposure. However, Briggs (2011) states that there is no evidence that exposure to cabergoline during pregnancy is harmful. Schaefer (2007) concludes that continuing treatment is not grounds for termination or invasive diagnostic procedure. For inhibition of lactation cabergoline should be administered during the first day post-partum. The recommended therapeutic dose is 1 mg (two 0.5 mg tablets) given as a single dose.

3) how to take cabergoline

Cabergoline is a long-acting medicine, which only needs to be taken once or twice a week. Your specialist will recommend the appropriate dose for you. Common side-effects of cabergoline Cabergoline is prescribed for a number of different medical conditions. Your doctor will tell you why it has been prescribed for you.

No information is available about interaction between cabergoline and other ergot alkaloids: therefore the concomitant use of these medications during long term treatment with cabergoline is not recommended.Suppression of milk secretion and relief of breast engorgement and pain are obtained in approximately 85% of nursing women treated with a total dose of 1 mg cabergoline given in four divided doses over two days. Rebound breast symptomatology after day 10 is uncommon (approximately 2% of cases).

After oral administration of the labelled compound, radioactivity was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract as the peak of radioactivity in plasma was between 0.5 and 4 hours. The pharmacokinetic and metabolic profiles of cabergoline have been studied in healthy volunteers of both sexes and in female hyperprolactinaemic patients. The recommended therapeutic dosage is 2 mg to 3 mg/day for patients with signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Cabergoline should be given as a single daily dose. After parturition, when the mother elects not to breast feed the infant or when breast feeding is contraindicated due to medical reasons related to the mother or the new-born. The concomitant use of antiparkinson non-dopamine agonists (e.g. selegiline, amantadine, biperiden, trihexyphenidyl) was allowed in clinical studies for patients receiving cabergoline. In studies where the pharmacokinetic interactions of cabergoline with L-dopa or selegiline were evaluated, no interactions were observed.

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Cabergoline should only be used during pregnancy if clearly indicated and after an accurate benefit/risk evaluation. Development of a widespread itchy rash, difficulty breathing with or without wheezing, feeling faint, unexplained swelling of the body or tongue or any other symptoms which appear to come on rapidly after taking this medication and make you feel unwell. These may be indicative of an allergic reaction. This is an uncommon side effect (may affect up to 1 in 100 people). Because hyperprolactinaemia accompanied with amenorrhoea/galactorrhoea and infertility may be associated with pituitary tumour, a complete evaluation of the pituitary is indicated before treatment with cabergoline is initiated. Sometimes people taking cabergoline can fall asleep suddenly with little or no warning of being tired beforehand. Until you know how you react, take extra care if you drive and if you operate machinery. If you do find yourself falling asleep suddenly, you should see your doctor as soon as possible for advice. Avoid driving and avoid use of tools and machines in the meantime.