Parlodel

This medication guide provides information about the Parlodel brand of bromocriptine. Cycloset is another brand of bromocriptine that is not covered in this medication guide.

The Parlodel brand of bromocriptine is used to treat certain conditions caused by a hormone imbalance with too much prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia). High prolactin levels may lead to sexual problems, hot flashes, menstrual problems or infertility in women, muscle loss in men, breast enlargement in men and women, and lack of sexual development in adolescents. Parlodel is also used to treat these issues when they are caused by a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland that can produce too much prolactin.

Parlodel is sometimes used along with surgery or radiation in treating acromegaly, a condition caused by a pituitary gland tumor that produces too much growth hormone.

Parlodel is also used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control.

Bromocriptine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take Parlodel with food, even if you take it at bedtime.

You will need frequent medical tests.

You should not stop using Parlodel suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

You should not use Parlodel if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, high blood pressure caused by pregnancy (eclampsia or preeclampsia), or if you recently had a baby and have a history of coronary artery disease or severe heart disease. You may need to stop taking Parlodel if you become pregnant during treatment. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Parlodel may cause you to fall asleep suddenly, even if you feel alert. Avoid driving or doing other dangerous activities until you know how this medicine will affect you.

Do not breastfeed.

Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking bromocriptine.

You should not use Parlodel if you are allergic to bromocriptine or to an ergot medicine (dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine).

You should not use Parlodel if:

• you are breastfeeding;
• you have uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension);
• you have hypertension caused by pregnancy (including eclampsia and preeclampsia); or
• you recently had a baby and you have a history of coronary artery disease or severe heart disease.

Bromocriptine may contain lactose. Before taking Parlodel, tell your doctor if you have a hereditary form of galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• high or low blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart attack;
• liver or kidney disease;
• a tumor of the pituitary gland;
• a stomach ulcer, stomach or intestinal bleeding; or
• mental illness or psychosis.

People with Parkinson's disease may have a higher risk of skin cancer (melanoma). Ask your doctor about skin symptoms to watch for.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant or you become pregnant. A pituitary tumor in the mother can expand during pregnancy. High blood pressure can also occur during pregnancy and bromocriptine could be dangerous if taken by a pregnant woman with high blood pressure.

Some women take Parlodel in order to normalize menstrual periods and increase their chances of becoming pregnant. Tell your doctor as soon as you become pregnant. You may need to stop taking Parlodel.

If you are not taking Parlodel to help you get pregnant, use a barrier form of birth control (condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge) to prevent pregnancy during treatment. Your doctor may also want you to have a pregnancy test every 4 weeks during treatment.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine.

Parlodel should not be given to a child younger than 11 years old.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Parlodel may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you experience:

• numbness, pain, and paleness or discoloration in your fingers or toes (especially in cold weather);
• vision problems, a constant runny nose;
• chest pain, pain when breathing, a fast heart rate, rapid breathing, or feeling short of breath (especially when lying down);
• back pain, swelling in your ankles or feet, urinating less than usual or not at all;
• confusion, hallucinations, or feeling faint;
• uncontrollable muscle movements, or loss of balance or coordination; or
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Parlodel may cause you to fall asleep during normal daytime activities like working, talking, eating, or driving. You may fall asleep suddenly, even if you feel alert. Inform your doctor if you have any issues with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness.

You may experience increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking Parlodel. Discuss this with your doctor if it happens.

Common side effects of Parlodel may include:

• dizziness;
• headache;
• hallucinations;
• nausea, constipation; or
• abnormal involuntary movements.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Take the medicine with food as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, constipation, sweating, pale skin, dizziness, drowsiness, yawning, confusion, hallucinations, and fainting.

Avoid driving or doing anything dangerous until you understand how Parlodel will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Avoid getting up too quickly from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications together. Some drugs can change how much of other drugs is in your blood, which may increase side effects or reduce how well the medications work.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking. Many drugs can affect Parlodel, especially medicines for:

• migraine headaches;
• infections;
• psychotic conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia;
• Parkinson's disease;
• restless leg syndrome; or
• acromegaly (too much growth hormone).

This list is not complete, and many other drugs may affect Parlodel. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Parlodel can make certain migraine headache medicines less effective when taken at the same time. Avoid taking Parlodel within 6 hours before or 6 hours after you take an ergot headache medicine (such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine).

Many other drugs can interact with bromocriptine. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• an antidepressant, a sedative or opioid medication, medicines for psychiatric disorders;
• an antibiotic or antifungal medication, anti-malaria drugs;
• asthma or allergy medication;
• cancer medicine, medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection;
• cholesterol-lowering drugs such as simvastatin (Zocor);
• an oral diabetes medication;
• heart or blood pressure medications, heart rhythm medication;
• HIV or AIDS medications;
• seizure medications;
• sildenafil (Viagra) and other erectile dysfunction medicines; or
• stomach acid reducers.

This list is not complete, and there are many other drugs that can interact with bromocriptine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.