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Parlodel
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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Indications Parlodel
It is used to treat menstrual cycle disorders and infertility in women: pathologies and conditions that depend on prolactin levels and are accompanied (or not) by hyperprolactinemia (among these are amenorrhea, luteal insufficiency, oligomenorrhea and secondary hyperprolactinemia that develops during drug treatment with psychoactive and antihypertensive drugs).
It is also used for PMS, during which there is pain and swelling in the mammary glands, increased gas formation and mood instability. It can also be used for infertility in women that does not depend on prolactin levels: anovulatory cycles (in combination with antiestrogens) or Stein-Leventhal syndrome.
The drug can be prescribed to men for hypogonadism arising in connection with prolactin levels (impotence, decreased libido or oligospermia). It can also be used in the development of prolactinoma: as a conservative treatment for pituitary micro- and macroadenomas secreting prolactin. Bromocriptine can also be used before surgical procedures to reduce the size of neoplasms and facilitate their lysis processes.
Parlodel is also used for elevated prolactin levels during the postoperative period. For people with acromegaly, the drug is prescribed as an additional element of combined treatment, along with radiation therapy and surgery (it can sometimes be used as an alternative to these methods).
The drug is taken to suppress lactation processes in connection with medical indications (if a woman develops mastitis after childbirth, and in addition to this, to prevent lactation after an abortion procedure and with engorgement of the mammary glands after childbirth). The drug is prescribed for FCM, nodular, and cystic changes in the mammary glands (their benign form) and mastodynia.
For people with shaking palsy, the drug can be prescribed at all stages of idiopathic pathology; as monotherapy or in combination with other antiparkinsonian drugs, it is used for postencephalitic parkinsonism.
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Release form
The medicine is released in tablets, 30 pieces per box.
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Pharmacodynamics
The drug inhibits physiological lactation, slows down the production of prolactin and suppresses the hypersecretion of the GH element. In addition, it helps stabilize the menstrual cycle and reduces the number of cysts inside the mammary glands, also reducing their size (by restoring the balance of progesterone with estrogens). Parlodel also stimulates the activity of peripheral and central D2-dopamine endings.
The active component of the drug is an ergot alkaloid derivative. High concentrations of the drug allow for a stimulating effect on the endings of the black nucleus with the striatum, as well as the hypothalamus with the mesolimbic system.
The main component of the drug is bromocriptine. The drug can inhibit the production of STH and ACTH hormones. Bromocriptine has antiparkinsonian properties.
After taking a single dose of the drug, a decrease in prolactin values is noted after 2 hours. The substance reaches its maximum medicinal effect after 8 hours. A decrease in STH values is noted after 1-2 hours, and the maximum effect is recorded after 1-2 months of treatment.
The antiparkinsonian effect is observed after 0.5-1.5 hours, and it reaches peak values 2 hours after consuming a single dose.
Pharmacokinetics
The drug taken orally is well absorbed. In volunteers taking tablets orally, the half-life of bromocriptine absorption was 0.2-0.5 hours, and plasma Cmax values were observed after approximately 1-3 hours. Plasma bromocriptine values exceeding 50% of the Cmax values are maintained for 3.5 hours.
The effect aimed at reducing prolactin levels develops after 12 hours from the moment of oral administration, reaching its maximum levels (a decrease in prolactin values by more than 80%) after 5-10 hours. Near-peak values of the substance persist for 8-12 hours.
Excretion of the drug from plasma in an unchanged state occurs in 2 stages, with the final half-life being approximately 15 hours (within 8-20 hours).
Bromocriptine with its metabolic products is almost completely excreted through the liver and only 6% of the portion is excreted by the kidneys. Protein synthesis rates are 96%.
Dosing and administration
The medication is taken orally, with food. A maximum of 0.1 g of the substance is allowed per day.
To treat infertility in women and menstrual cycle disorders, 1.25 mg of bromocriptine should be taken 3 times a day. If such a daily dose does not bring results, it is allowed to increase it to 5-7.5 mg of the substance. Treatment is carried out until the cycle stabilizes or ovulation processes are restored. If necessary, several cycles of therapy can be performed to prevent the development of relapses.
Men with hyperprolactinemia need to take 1.25 mg of the substance 3 times a day, gradually increasing the daily dosage to 5-10 mg.
Women should start taking the medication on the 14th day of their menstrual cycle (with a dosage of 1.25 mg per day) to treat PMS. Then the dose is gradually increased to 5 mg per day (daily +1.25 mg) – throughout the entire period until the onset of menstruation.
To treat prolactinoma, it is necessary to take 1.25 mg of Parlodel 2-3 times a day. The daily dose of the drug can be increased if it is necessary to stabilize certain prolactin levels.
The initial dose of the drug for acromegaly is 1.25 mg, taken 2-3 times a day, and the subsequent treatment regimen is determined by the severity of negative symptoms and the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug.
To suppress lactation, it is necessary to take 1.25 mg of the drug twice a day on the first day, and then, for 14 days, take 2.5 mg of the substance twice a day. The drug should be taken immediately after the birth of the child - to prevent the onset of lactation (after the condition of the woman in labor is stabilized). After 2-3 days after the end of treatment, a weak secretion of milk may be observed. In such cases, it is necessary to extend the therapy for 7 days with the intake of the above-mentioned portions of the drug.
In case of breast engorgement after childbirth, it is necessary to take Parlodel once in a dose of 2.5 mg. Repeated use is allowed after a 6-12 hour interval (does not lead to undesirable suppression of the lactation process).
In the case of mastitis development after childbirth, the therapeutic regimen using drugs is similar to the course used to suppress the lactation process. An antibacterial agent can also be added to the treatment regimen.
To treat benign breast tumors, it is necessary to take 1.25 mg of the medicine 2-3 times a day. Later, the daily dose of the medicine should be increased to 5-7.5 mg.
People with shaking palsy should start therapy with minimal doses (1.25 mg) to ensure normal tolerance of the drug. Every week, the daily dosage of the drug is increased by the same 1.25 mg. The medicinal effect develops after 1.5-2 months of treatment. If there is no effect after this time, the dosage should be increased further. If negative symptoms develop due to an increase in the dose of the drug, the amount of the substance taken should be reduced for 7 days. When the patient's condition stabilizes, the optimal dose can be selected again.
People with levodopa-induced movement disorders should reduce the dose of this substance before starting Parlodel therapy. In some cases, levodopa may be completely discontinued.
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Use Parlodel during pregnancy
Parlodel is prescribed to pregnant women with extreme caution.
Contraindications
Main contraindications:
- endogenous psychoses;
- Huntington's disease;
- Minor's disease;
- hypersensitivity to bromocriptine;
- increased blood pressure levels in the postpartum period;
- decreased blood pressure values;
- ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract;
- gestosis;
- diseases affecting the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Caution is required when combined with antihypertensive drugs, as well as when used in people with Parkinsonism complicated by symptoms of dementia.
Since the active ingredient is excreted in breast milk, the use of the drug during lactation is limited.
Side effects Parlodel
Rarely, the use of bromocriptine leads to the development of dizziness, nausea, orthostatic collapse, or vomiting.
Headaches, psychosis, visual disturbances, psychomotor agitation and a feeling of intense drowsiness may also occur. In addition, stroke, nasal congestion, hallucinations, dry mouth (caries, periodontal disease, orocandidosis, as well as a feeling of discomfort), myocardial infarction, cramps in the calf muscles, rashes on the epidermis and signs of allergy may develop.
Long-term treatment leads to the development of Raynaud's disease.
Therapy using large doses of drugs in Parkinsonism can lead to fainting, bleeding inside the gastrointestinal tract (manifested in the form of bloody vomiting and black feces), peptic ulcers and confusion. In addition, such use causes the release of cerebrospinal fluid from the nose and Ormond's disease (pain in the back, increased frequency of urination, loss of appetite, a feeling of general weakness, nausea, pain in the abdominal area and vomiting).
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Overdose
In cases of poisoning, a decrease in blood pressure is observed, as well as the development of headaches.
To eliminate these disorders, the substance metoplopramide is used, which is administered parenterally.
Interactions with other drugs
Parlodel may reduce the therapeutic efficacy of oral contraception.
Erythromycin with clarithromycin and troleandomycin can increase Cmax values and bioavailability of the drug. When using butyrofens, the opposite effect is noted.
Selegin with furazolidone, procarbazine, MAOIs, haloperidol with loxapine, and in addition reserpine, ergot alkaloids, phenothiazides, metoclopramide and thioxanthines with methyldopa increase the likelihood of negative symptoms due to an increase in plasma levels of the active element of the drug.
The drug potentiates the therapeutic properties of levodopa and antihypertensive drugs.
Disulfiram-like symptoms occur when the medication is combined with ethyl alcohol (tachycardia, vomiting, reflex cough, hyperemia of the epidermis, nausea, pain in the sternal region, visual disturbances, convulsions and pulsating headaches develop).
If the patient needs to take ritonavir, the daily dose is halved.
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Shelf life
Parlodel is approved for use within 36 months from the date of manufacture of the therapeutic drug.
Analogues
Analogues of the drug include such drugs as Ronalin and Bromocriptine.
Reviews
Parlodel is considered a very effective drug when taken as directed by your doctor, which is what patients say in their reviews.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Parlodel" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.