Drugs five years later. Bromocriptine

Ann Intern Med. 1984 Jan;100(1):78-91. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-100-1-78.

Abstract

Bromocriptine, a specific dopamine receptor agonist, has been used for the treatment of various hyperprolactinemic conditions and as adjunctive therapy for acromegaly (with or without concomitant hyperprolactinemia) and Parkinson's disease. Bromocriptine is extremely effective in suppressing prolactin secretion regardless of the cause, in restoring gonadal function and fertility, and in decreasing the size of prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors. Most patients with acromegaly have clinical improvement with this drug. When bromocriptine is added to a regimen of levodopa or carbidopa, patients with Parkinson's disease frequently have additional clinical improvement and, in most patients, the levodopa or carbidopa dose can be reduced. Withdrawal of bromocriptine therapy is associated in most patients with reversal of its beneficial effects--return of hyperprolactinemia, return of excess growth hormone secretion, and exacerbation of Parkinson's disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / drug therapy
  • Adenoma / drug therapy
  • Bromocriptine / adverse effects
  • Bromocriptine / therapeutic use*
  • Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / drug therapy
  • Edema / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Growth Hormone / blood
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / drug therapy
  • Infertility, Female / drug therapy
  • Lactation / drug effects
  • Luteal Phase / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Premenstrual Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Prolactin / blood

Substances

  • Bromocriptine
  • Prolactin
  • Growth Hormone