MedeliX
Start asking

Bromocriptine

Gynodel, Parlodel · ATC code G02CB01

Also known as: Bromocriptin, Bromokriptin, Bromocriptine mesylate

Key facts
Active substance
Bromocriptine
Drug class
Prolactine inhibitors
ATC code
G02CB01
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-29

Key facts

Bromocriptine is an ergot-derived dopamine agonist. Per the US prescribing information, it is used in hyperprolactinemia, acromegaly and Parkinson's disease.

What it is used for

  • Dysfunctions associated with hyperprolactinemia (amenorrhea with or without galactorrhea, infertility, hypogonadism), including prolactin-secreting adenomas, and to reduce tumor mass before surgery
  • Acromegaly, alone or as adjunct to pituitary irradiation or surgery
  • Signs and symptoms of idiopathic or postencephalitic Parkinson's disease, including as adjunct to levodopa

Dosing

  • Take with food; titrate to the lowest dosage producing a therapeutic response
  • Hyperprolactinemia (adults): start one-half to one 2.5 mg tablet daily, add 2.5 mg every 2 to 7 days as tolerated; therapeutic dosage in studies 2.5 to 15 mg daily
  • Acromegaly: start one-half to one 2.5 mg tablet on retiring (with food) for 3 days, increase every 3 to 7 days; usually 20 to 30 mg/day, maximum 100 mg/day
  • Parkinson's disease: start one-half of a 2.5 mg tablet twice daily with meals, increase if needed every 14 to 28 days by 2.5 mg/day; safety above 100 mg/day not demonstrated
  • Children aged 11 to 15: see the full text

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to bromocriptine, any excipient, or any ergot alkaloid
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • In hyperprolactinemia, withdraw when pregnancy is diagnosed

Important warnings

  • Somnolence and sudden sleep onset during daily activities, particularly in Parkinson's disease; patients who have experienced this must not drive or operate machines
  • Hypotension, especially during the first days of treatment; caution with antihypertensive drugs
  • Hypertension, seizures and stroke reported, mostly in postpartum patients; discontinue if hypertension or severe headache develops
  • Pleural and pericardial effusions, pulmonary and retroperitoneal fibrosis, particularly with long-term, high-dose treatment
  • Hallucinations, confusion, and impulse control problems (gambling, spending, increased sexual urges)
  • Complete pituitary evaluation before treatment; prolactinomas may expand during pregnancy

Side effects

  • Hyperprolactinemia: adverse effects in 69%, generally mild to moderate; nausea 49%, headache 19%, dizziness 17%, fatigue 7%, vomiting 5%
  • Acromegaly: nausea 18%, constipation 14%, postural hypotension 6%, digital vasospasm 3%
  • Parkinson's disease: among others abnormal involuntary movements, hallucinations, confusion, on-off phenomenon, dizziness, drowsiness
  • Rarely cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea with large prolactinomas

Interactions

  • Alcohol may potentiate side effects
  • Phenothiazines, haloperidol, metoclopramide and pimozide decrease efficacy
  • Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (azole antimycotics, HIV protease inhibitors) and macrolides such as erythromycin increase bromocriptine levels; so does octreotide

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • In hyperprolactinemia, withdraw when pregnancy is diagnosed; mechanical contraception is advised until normal ovulatory cycles are restored
  • Safety in pregnancy for mother and fetus not established; bromocriptine suppresses lactation

Summary of the official product information, written with AI on 2026-10-29. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

Common questions – ask Medelix

For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Germany

  • PravidelExeltis Germany Gmbh · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-29

Turkey

  • GynodelMÜNİR ŞAHİN İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC A.Ş. · 1 register entry
  • ParlodelVİATRİS İLAÇLARI LİMİTED ŞİRKETİ · 3 register entries

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

USA

  • CyclosetAvvisto Therapeutics LLC · 1 register entry

Source: U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), as of 2026-10-29

Brand names in 20 more European countries
Belgium
Parlodel
Bulgaria
Бромокриптин Медокеми
Cyprus
Medocriptine, Pirodal
Czechia
Medocriptine
Estonia
Bromocriptin Richter
France
Parlodel
Hungary
Bromocriptin Richter
Italy
Parlodel
Latvia
Bromocriptin Richter
Lithuania
Bromocriptin Richter
Luxembourg
Pravidel
Malta
Medocriptine
Netherlands
Parlodel
Norway
Parlodel
Poland
Bromocorn
Portugal
Bromocriptina Generis, Parlodel
Romania
Brocriptin
Slovakia
Medocriptine
Spain
Parlodel
Sweden
Pravidel

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

Other substances in the same group

Another question about this substance?

Medelix answers clinical questions from guidelines, studies and product information – every claim with its source.

Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bromocriptine mesylate (Sandoz Inc) – Prescribing Information, 2024-06-30. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=c43c300d-8aec-4020-984a-42c1a917c08f
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  4. U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
  5. Wikidata (CC0): ATC G02CB.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-29 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.