Cabergoline (Dostinex) is a tablet treatment that reduces the production of prolactin by the pituitary gland. It is used to treat hyperprolactinemia and pituitary prolactinomas.

It is also useful for treating fertility problems in women and boosting sperm count in men. It can even suppress lactation.

However, it can have rare side effects like heart valve damage. Therefore, it is important to monitor the level of prolactin in your blood and MRI scan regularly.

How Long After?

If you need treatment for a prolactinoma (tumor of the pituitary gland that produces too much prolactin) or have PCOS, your doctor may prescribe oral tablet cabergoline (Dostinex). It works by binding to dopamine receptors and blocking the release of prolactin. It is also used to treat other medical problems that occur when too much prolactin is produced, such as menstrual abnormalities and hirsutism in women and testicular atrophy in men.

One study investigated the impact of Cabergoline for Bodybuilding on IVF outcomes. It randomized women to either begin taking cabergoline at the time of their GnRH agonist trigger or after their oocyte retrieval. The results showed that starting cabergoline at the time of triggering did not negatively impact final oocyte maturation and fertilization rate. However, it did significantly reduce the rates of moderate or severe OHSS.

There are a few common side-effects associated with cabergoline, such as drowsiness and nausea. These are usually mild and go away with use, but you should tell your doctor if you experience any severe side-effects or they don't improve after a few days or weeks.

In some rare cases, long-term use of cabergoline can lead to heart valve damage. Your doctor will listen to your heart and arrange for an echocardiogram (ultrasound of your heart) before beginning treatment, especially if you will be on long-term therapy.

Can I Start Another Cycle?

If your prolactin levels have stabilized, your endocrinologist will advise you to discontinue cabergoline. If you stop treatment suddenly, your blood prolactin levels may return to high levels and your periods will not resume. Women who are breastfeeding should not take cabergoline because it can inhibit ovulation, decrease the supply of breast milk, and reduce the rate at which your body produces milk. It is usually necessary to wait until your baby has stopped breastfeeding before resuming the medication.

It is important to tell your doctor if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. These can interact with cabergoline and increase your risk of side effects such as dizziness, tiredness, heartburn, bloating, nausea, constipation, and changes in mood.

Typically, your specialist will start you on a low dose and slowly increase your dosage as your body adjusts to it. It is best to take your dosage twice a week, preferably with food, in order to reduce the chance of stomach upset.

It can take 4-6 weeks for the medication to reach your body's bloodstream. You will have a PRL test done after this time to confirm that your prolactin level has stabilized. It is also recommended to have a repeat pituitary MRI scan before increasing your dose. This will help your endocrinologist find the lowest possible effective dose of cabergoline for you.

Can I Stop?

Cabergoline is an effective drug that can help to reduce the symptoms of hyperprolactinemia. It works by binding to the dopamine receptors and stopping your body from producing prolactin. This reduces the problems that can arise from high levels of this hormone, including galactorrhea (unwanted breast milk production), missed periods, infertility in women and men, erectile dysfunction, and pituitary prolactinomas (tumors).

You should take cabergoline only as prescribed by your doctor. It is available in 0.5 mg oral tablets that you should take twice a week with or without food. Your endocrinologist may monitor your blood prolactin levels and repeat MRI scans to monitor for tumor growth while you are taking this medication. After achieving normal prolactin levels for 6 months, you can stop this medication. You can restart it if the problem returns.

Before you start taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have any other health conditions, especially heart disease or history of liver, kidney, or lung problems. You should also let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This medication can pass into breast milk, so it is not recommended for nursing mothers.

You should avoid drinking alcohol and using street drugs while you are taking this medication. You should also inform your doctor if you have any other medications or herbal supplements, especially ones that affect the heart, such as diuretics, antidepressants, and anticholinergics. Cabergoline can interact with these medications, and this could increase the risk of side effects or make them worse.

What Should I Do?

Generally, it's best to continue taking your cabergoline as directed by your doctor. It's important to do so in order to reduce the likelihood of developing serious side effects.

Some common side-effects associated with this medication include drowsiness, dizziness and falling asleep suddenly without warning. These can make it dangerous to drive or use tools/machinery, so be cautious until you know how this drug affects you. You should also avoid or limit alcohol, as this can increase your risk of these side-effects.

This medicine binds to dopamine receptors and prevents your body from releasing prolactin, which helps decrease prolactin levels. You should take this medication orally with or without food as prescribed by your doctor, usually twice per week. Your neurologist or endocrinologist will start you off on a low dose and then slowly increase it over time until it has the desired effect.

It's also recommended to eat simple meals and avoid rich foods, as they may trigger or worsen some of the side-effects of this medication. You should also tell your doctor about any other prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements or herbal products you are taking, as some of these could interact with this medicine. Be sure to read the printed information leaflet from inside your pack before you begin treatment. This will provide further information on this medicine and will give you a full list of the side-effects that might occur when taking it.