Parlodel

Parlodel is a prescription medication used to treat hyperprolactinemia (condition of having high levels of prolactin), acromegaly (condition of abnormal growth), and Parkinson's disease (condition affecting the motor system of the body).

Parlodel belongs to a group of drugs called dopamine receptor agonists. It treats hyperprolactinemia by decreasing the amount of prolactin in the body. It treats acromegaly by decreasing the amount of growth hormone in the body. It treats Parkinson's disease by acting like dopamine, affecting the brain processes that control movement. 

Parlodel comes in capsule and tablet form. This medication should be taken with food.

Common side effects include nausea, headache, drowsiness, and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.

Parlodel is a prescription medication used to:

• treat the effects of hyperprolactinemia (high levels of a natural hormonal substance called prolactin) including lack of menstrual periods, discharge from the nipples, infertility and hypogonadism (low levels of certain natural substances needed for normal development and sexual function)
• shrink prolactin-secreting tumors which cause hyperprolactinemia
• treat acromegaly (condition in which there is too much growth hormone in the body)
• treat Parkinson's disease

This medication may be prescribed for more uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• how you respond to this medication
• other medicines you are taking

The recommended dose range of Parlodel for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia in adults is 2.5 to 15 mg/day. For children, the recommended dose is 2.5 - 10 mg/day.

The recommended dose range of Parlodel for the treatment of acromegaly is 20 to 30 mg/day. The maximum dose is 100 mg/day for acromegaly. 

The initial dose of Parlodel for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease is 1/2 of a 2.5 mg SnapTabs twice daily with meals. Increases are then made on an individual basis. Your doctor will start you on a low dosage and will slowly increase the dose. Safety information is not known for doses over 100 mg/day. 

Serious side effects have been reported with Parlodel including the following:

• Hyperprolactinemia associated with abnormal menstrual cycles and infertility (the inability to conceive) has been found in patients with pituitary tumors, a complete evaluation of the pituitary is indicated before treatment with Parlodel
• If pregnancy occurs during Parlodel administration, careful observation of these patients is mandatory. Tumors may expand and compression of nerves in the brain may occur, emergency surgery may become necessary. 
• Parlodel has been associated with sleepiness. Sudden onset of sleep during daily activities may occur. It is not advised to drive or operate machines during treatment with Parlodel.
• Low blood pressure can occur. Regularly monitor your blood pressure.

Do not take Parlodel if you:

• are allergic to Parlodel or to any of its ingredients
• have sensitivity to any ergot alkaloids
• have uncontrolled high blood pressure
• become pregnant
• recently gave birth (postpartum period) and have a history of coronary artery disease

Common side effects of Parlodel include:

Hyperprolactinemia

• Nausea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Extreme tiredness 
• Lightheadedness
• Vomiting
• Stomach (abdomen) cramps 
• Stuffy nose
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness

Acromegaly

• Nausea
• Constipation
• Certain forms of low blood pressure
• Loss of appetite
• Dry mouth
• Stuffy nose
• Acid indigestion
• Condition where blood vessels constrict
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting

Parkinson's disease

• Nausea
• Abnormal, uncontrolled movements
• Hallucinations
• Confusion
• "On-off" phenomenon which is a condition where patients switch between being able to move and unable to move
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Fainting
• Vomiting
• Lack of energy
• Stomach (abdomen) discomfort
• Visual changes
• Loss of control of body movements
• Difficulty sleeping
• Depression
• Low blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Constipation
• Vertigo (feeling like your surroundings are spinning)

This is not a complete list of Parlodel side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer but possible interactions may occur with the following medications when used with Parlodel:

• medications that block the effects of a substance in the body called dopamine such as quetiapine (Seroquel) and metoclopramide (Reglan)
• haloperidol (Haldol)
• pimozide (Orap)
• medications that block a protein in the body (CYP3A4) such as some macrolide antibiotics (clarithromycin, telithromycin), some HIV protease inhibitors (indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), some HCV protease inhibitors (boceprevir, telaprevir), some azole antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole), conivaptan (Vaprisol), delavirdine (Rescriptor), and nefazodone
• a group of medicines called ergot Alkaloids such as ergotamine (Ergomar) and dihydroergotamine (Migranal)

This is not a complete list of Parlodel drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant during your treatment with Parlodel, stop taking the medication and call your doctor.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Parlodel falls into category B. If pregnancy occurs during Parlodel use, careful observation of these patients is mandatory. 

If you do not wish to become pregnant, use a method of birth control other than hormonal contraceptives while you are taking Parlodel. If you become pregnant during your treatment with Parlodel, stop taking the medication and call your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed while you are taking Parlodel.

Bromocriptine may cause dizziness, nausea, sweating, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position.

• This is more common when you first start taking bromocriptine or when your dose is increased.
• To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.

With the use of bromocriptine, there is a possibility you may experience an intense urge to spend money uncontrollably, intense urge to gamble, increased sexual urges and other intense urges and the inability to control these urges.

Bromocriptine can cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how bromocriptine affects you.