Bromocriptine is contraindicated for use in the suppression of lactation or other non- life threatening indications in patients with severe coronary artery disease, or symptoms and/or a history of serious mental disorders (see section 4.3 Contraindications).
Other
There is insufficient evidence of efficacy of bromocriptine in the treatment of premenstrual symptoms and benign breast disease. The use of bromocriptine in patients with these conditions is therefore not recommended.
In rare cases, serious adverse events, including hypertension, myocardial infarction, seizures, stroke or psychiatric disorders have been reported in postpartum women treated with bromocriptine for the inhibition of lactation. In some patients the development of seizures or stroke was preceded by severe headache and/or transient visual disturbances (see section 4.8; Undesirable effects).
Patients with severe cardiovascular disorders or psychiatric disorders taking bromocriptine for the indication of macro-adenomas should only take it if the perceived benefits outweigh the potential risks (see section 4.3 Contraindications).
Blood pressure should be carefully monitored, especially during the first days of therapy. Particular caution is required in patients who are on concomitant therapy with, or have recently been treated with drugs that can alter blood pressure.
Concomitant use of bromocriptine with vasoconstrictors such as sympathomimetics or ergot alkaloids including ergometrine or methylergometrine during the puerperium is not recommended.
If hypertension, suggestive chest pain, severe progressive or unremitting headache or any signs of central nervous system toxicity develop, treatment should be discontinued immediately and the patient should be evaluated promptly.
Hyperprolactinaemia may be idiopathic, drug-induced, or due to hypothalamic or pituitary disease. The possibility that hyperprolactinaemic patients may have a pituitary tumour should be recognised and complete investigation at specialised units to identify such patients is advisable. Bromocriptine will effectively lower prolactin levels in patients with pituitary tumours but does not obviate the necessity for radiotherapy or surgical intervention where appropriate in acromegaly.
Since patients with macro-adenomas of the pituitary might have accompanying hypopituitarism due to compression or destruction of pituitary tissue, one should make a complete evaluation of pituitary functions and institute appropriate substitution therapy prior to administration of bromocriptine. In patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency, substitution with corticosteroids is essential.
The evolution of tumour size in patients with pituitary macro-adenomas should be carefully monitored and if evidence of tumour expansion develops, surgical procedures must be considered.
If in adenoma patients, pregnancy occurs after the administration of bromocriptine careful observation is mandatory. Prolactin-secreting adenomas may expand during pregnancy. In these patients, treatment with bromocriptine often results in tumour shrinkage and rapid improvement of the visual fields defects. In severe cases, compression of the optic or other cranial nerves may necessitate emergency pituitary surgery.
Visual field impairment is a known complication of macroprolactinoma. Effective treatment with bromocriptine leads to a reduction in hyperprolactinaemia and often to resolution of the visual impairment. In some patients, however, a secondary deterioration of visual fields may subsequently develop despite normalised prolactin levels and tumour shrinkage, which may result from traction on the optic chiasm which is pulled down into the now partially empty sella. In these cases the visual field defect may improve on reduction of bromocriptine dosage while there is some elevation of prolactin and some tumour re-expansion. Monitoring of visual fields in patients with macroprolactinoma is therefore recommended for an early recognition of secondary field loss due to chiasmal herniation and adaptation of drug dosage.
In some patients with prolactin-secreting adenomas treated with bromocriptine, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea has been observed. The data available suggest that this may result from shrinkage of invasive tumours.
Bromocriptine has been associated with somnolence and episodes of sudden sleep onset, particularly in patients with Parkinson's disease. Sudden onset of sleep during daily activities, in some cases without awareness or warning signs, has been reported very rarely. Patients must be informed of this and advised to exercise caution while driving or operating machines during treatment with bromocriptine. Patients who have experienced somnolence and/or an episode of sudden sleep onset must refrain from driving or operating machines (see Section 4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines). Furthermore, a reduction of dosage or termination of therapy may be considered.
When women of child-bearing age are treated with bromocriptine for conditions not associated with hyperprolactinaemia the lowest effective dose should be used. This is in order to avoid suppression of prolactin to below normal levels, with consequent impairment of luteal function.
Gynaecological assessment, preferably including cervical and endometrial cytology, is recommended for women receiving bromocriptine for extensive periods. Six monthly assessment is suggested for post-menopausal women and annual assessment for women with regular menstruation.
A few cases of gastrointestinal bleeding and gastric ulcer have been reported. If this occurs, bromocriptine should be withdrawn. Patients with a history of evidence of peptic ulceration should be closely monitored when receiving the treatment.
Since, especially during the first few days of treatment, hypotensive reactions may occasionally occur and result in reduced alertness, particular care should be exercised when driving a vehicle or operating machinery.
Among patients on bromocriptine, particularly on long-term and high-dose treatment, pleural and pericardial effusions, as well as pleural and pulmonary fibrosis and constrictive pericarditis have occasionally been reported. Patients with unexplained pleuropulmonary disorders should be examined thoroughly and discontinuation of bromocriptine therapy should be contemplated.
In a few patients on bromocriptine, particularly on long-term and high-dose treatment, retroperitoneal fibrosis has been reported. To ensure recognition of retroperitoneal fibrosis at an early reversible stage it is recommended that its manifestations (e.g. back pain, oedema of the lower limbs, impaired kidney function) should be watched in this category of patients. Bromocriptine medication should be withdrawn if fibrotic changes in the retroperitoneum are diagnosed or suspected.
Attention should be paid to the signs and symptoms of
pleuro-pulmonary disease such as dyspnoea, shortness of breath, persistent cough or chest pain.
cardiac failure as cases of pericardial fibrosis have often manifested as cardiac failure. Constrictive pericarditis should be excluded if such symptoms appear.
Appropriate investigations such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, chest X-ray and serum creatinine measurements should be performed if necessary to support a diagnosis of a fibrotic disorder. It is also appropriate to perform baseline investigations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate or other inflammatory markers, lung function/chest X-ray and renal function prior to initiation of therapy.
These disorders can have an insidious onset and patients should be regularly and carefully monitored while taking bromocriptine for manifestations of progressive fibrotic disorders. Bromocriptine should be withdrawn if fibrotic or serosal inflammatory changes are diagnosed or suspected.
Impulse control disorders
Patients should be regularly monitored for the development of impulse control disorders. Patients and carers should be made aware that behavioural symptoms of impulse control disorders including pathological gambling, increased libido, hypersexuality, compulsive spending or buying, binge eating and compulsive eating can occur in patients treated with dopamine agonists, including bromocriptine. Dose reduction/tapered discontinuation should be considered if such symptoms develop.
Important Precautions
When dose reduction or discontinuation of this drug is necessary, the dose should be gradually reduced. Rapid dose reduction or discontinuation may cause a neuroleptic malignant syndrome. In addition, rapid dose reduction or discontinuation of dopamine receptor agonists may cause drug withdrawal syndrome (characterized by apathy, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sweating, pain, etc.).
Children and Adolescents (aged 7-17)
Bromocriptine has been used to treat prolactinomas and gigantism (acromegaly) indications in patients aged 7 or above and case series have been documented in the literature. Only isolated data are available for bromocriptine use in paediatric patients under the age of 7 years. Data on safety are limited, particularly in the long term.
Prescribing is restricted to Paediatric Endocrinologists.
Elderly
Clinical studies for bromocriptine did not include sufficient numbers of subjects ages 65 and above to determine whether the elderly respond differently from younger subjects. However, other reported clinical experiences, including post-marketing reporting of adverse events have identified no differences in response or tolerability between elderly and younger patients.
Even though no variation in efficacy or adverse reaction profile in elderly patients taking bromocriptine has been observed, greater sensitivity in some elderly individuals cannot be categorically ruled out. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, starting at the lower end of the dose range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy in this population.
Bromocriptine tablets contain lactose
Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Bromocriptine tablets contain sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.