Bromocriptine may be used to treat certain hormonal disorders. Learn how to use the medication, its common side effects, special precautions to watch out for, and more.

What is this medication for?

Bromocriptine may be used to treat one of the following conditions:

• Decreasing milk production after childbirth
• Parkinson’s disease
• High prolactin levels which may cause symptoms like irregular menses, milk-like discharge from nipples or infertility

How should I take this medication?

• Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
• You can take Bromocriptine with food or milk if you experience stomach discomfort. You can take it at bedtime to reduce the nausea if you experience it.
• You may need to take Bromocriptine for weeks before you experience the full benefits of the medication. Do not stop the medication even if you feel that it is not working.

What should I do if I forget to take this medication?

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
• If more than 4 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take only the usual dose at the next time. 
• Do not double your dose to make up for a missed dose.​

What precautions should I take?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients in this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Pregnancy: Tell your doctor immediately if you think you are pregnant. You should discuss with your doctor to check if Bromocriptine should be continued during pregnancy.
  • Female patients who are not planning to be pregnant should use non-hormonal methods eg barrier contraception to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal medications used to prevent pregnancy might decrease the effectiveness of Bromocriptine. 
  • Breast-feeding: Bromocriptine stops the production of milk. However, if you still continue to produce milk, you should not breast-feed your child.

Do not stop taking Bromocriptine suddenly as this may cause unwanted effects.

While you are on this medication, you might find it difficult to control some behaviour such as gambling, sexual thoughts, eating too much or spending too much. Please inform your doctor if you or your caregivers notice any of these behaviours. 

If you are taking this medication for a long time, your doctor may need to check your heart and lungs and do blood tests regularly to make sure you do not suffer from the side effects of the medication. 

What are some common side-effects of this medication?

​Generally, this medication has been well tolerated. Side effects usually have been mild and may go away as the body adjusts to the medication. 

Common side effects include:

• Nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, dry mouth
• Low blood pressure which can cause dizziness, light-headedness or fainting when you get up from a sitting, lying or squatting position
• Drowsiness and dizziness. If affected, do not drive or operate any machines. Since dizziness is more likely when you first start on the medication, you can take the first dose at bedtime to decrease dizziness. 
• Headache
• Worsening of tingling or pain in fingers and toes when you are exposed to cold
• Congestion of the nose 

If you have any concerns regarding the side effects of Bromocriptine, discuss with your healthcare professional. Do not stop taking medication on your own.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

• Depression
• Confusion, hallucination
• Severe leg cramps and uncontrolled movements of the body (including face, tongue, arms, hands, head and upper body)
• The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following: 
• swollen face/eyes/lips
• difficulty in breathing
• itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If any of these happens, stop taking your medication and see a doctor immediately as you will need treatment straight away.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take this medication?

Taking Bromocriptine with alcohol may cause blurred vision, chest pain, confusion and palpitations. Avoid taking alcohol when you are taking Bromocriptine. 

Check with your doctor before you take Bromocriptine with other medications as Bromocriptine may interact with some medications.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How should I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimers

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated Jul 2022