Bromocriptine, Oral broh-moh-KRIP-teen

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: dopamine receptor agonist

Generic and brand names: bromocriptine, oral; Parlodel

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat medical problems such as:

• Parkinson's disease
• some menstrual problems
• pituitary tumors
• high levels of growth hormones in the body
• infertility

This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• any condition that prevents you from digesting glucose, galactose, or lactose normally
• heart disease
• high or low blood pressure
• liver or kidney disease
• mental illness such as schizophrenia
• stomach ulcers

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Before you take this medicine, discuss birth control methods with your healthcare provider. Hormonal birth control may not prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine. If you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider right away. Do not take this medicine while you are breast-feeding because it reduces the amount of milk your body produces.

How do I take it?

This medicine comes as tablets or capsules. Take this medicine with food. Taking it with meals or milk may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach. Tell your healthcare provider if stomach upset continues.

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval, even if you start to feel better.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, constipation, sweating, pale skin, dizziness, confusion, yawning, extreme drowsiness, fainting, hallucinations.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make you dizzy, especially when you first start taking the medicine or with dose changes. You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Avoid sudden changes in position. Get up slowly after sitting or lying down.

This medicine may also cause drowsiness or cause you to suddenly fall asleep during daily activities. Sometimes this may happen without warning. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

You may need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Hallucinations, confusion, seizures, chest pain, shortness of breath, black or tarry stools, fainting, headache that won't go away or a headache with vision problems, vomiting blood, swelling of feet or ankles, leg cramps, loss of bladder control, weakness, sudden drowsiness or sudden falling asleep, constantly runny nose.

Other: Nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, headache, dry mouth, stuffy nose.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antiarrhythmic drugs such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) and quinidine
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), isoniazid, rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril, lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• alpha blockers such as doxazosin (Cardura) and prazosin (Minipress)
• angiotensin receptor II blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and miconazole (Monistat, Micatin)
• anti-HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• antipsychotic medicines such as aripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine (Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pimozide (Orap), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel), thiothixene (Navane), and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• aspirin or other salicylates
• beta blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, propranolol (Inderal LA), and sotalol (Betapace)
• cabergoline
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem), felodipine, isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• conivaptan (Vaprisol)
• diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
• imatinib (Gleevec)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)
• levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• medicines to treat migraine headaches such as almotriptan (Axert), dihydroergotamine (DHE 45, Migranal), eletriptan (Relpax), ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Wigraine), ergonovine, frovatriptan (Frova), isometheptene/acetaminophen (Epidrin, Midrin), methylergonovine (Methergine), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig)
• metoclopramide (Reglan)
• nefazodone
• octreotide (Sandostatin)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• probenecid
• St. John’s wort
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.