Cabergoline 0.5 mg

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet is a dopamine agonist. It is used for the treatment of a high level of prolactin. It is also helpful in stopping breast milk production in cases of stillbirth, abortion, or miscarriage.

Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet should be taken with food,  but take it at the same time to get the most benefit. It should be taken as your doctor’s advice. The dose and how often you take it depends on what you are taking it for. Your doctor will decide how much you need to improve your symptoms. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. You should take this medicine for as long as it is prescribed for you.

The most common side effects of this medicine include nausea, headache, dizziness, and low blood pressure. If these bother you or appear serious, let your doctor know. There may be ways of reducing or preventing them.  To overcome dizziness, you must avoid driving or rise slowly from sitting or lying position.

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever had high blood pressure after birth, or had heart disease. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Your doctor should also know about all other medicines you are taking as many of these may make this medicine less effective or change the way it works. Your doctor may check blood pressure regularly while taking this medicine.

What is Cabergoline Tablet?

Cabergoline is a medicine used in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia (abnormally high level of a hormone called prolactin in the body). It works by decreasing the level of prolactin (a chemical substance responsible for breast development and milk production in women) in the body. The higher dose of this medicine (1mg) is also used as a second-line treatment for Parkinson’s disease (a brain disorder that causes uncontrolled movements).

Cabergoline shows common side effects such as constipation, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and tiredness. These side effects usually subside with time. However, if they persist or become worse, consult your doctor for further assistance. Avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machines while taking this medication, as it can cause dizziness or drowsiness.

Cabergoline can be taken with or without food. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Take the tablet at the same time daily for the ease of remembering. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Avoid the discontinuation of this medicine without consulting your doctor, as it may worsen your condition.

Cabergoline is not recommended if you are allergic to it. It is not recommended if you have abnormally high blood pressure, a heart valve condition (improper functioning of your heart valves), or have had fibrosis (scar tissue) affecting your heart, lungs, or abdomen. It should be used with caution if you have a history of liver or heart problems or high blood pressure due to pregnancy.

Cabergoline is not recommended for use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Hence consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

How to use Cabergoline

Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually twice a week or as directed by your doctor.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment (prolactin levels). Your doctor will start you at a low dose and slowly increase your dose over several months to help decrease side effects. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, mark the days on the calendar when you need to take the medication.

Uses of cabergoline tablet

Treatment of High levels of prolactin

Hyperprolactinemia

Hyperprolactinemia is a condition in which your body produces an abnormally high level of prolactin (a hormone responsible for breast development and milk production in women). Cabergoline is used in the treatment of Hyperprolactinemia.

Parkinson’s condition

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that leads to abnormal body movements. Cabergoline is used as a second-line treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Benefits of cabergoline tablet

In Treatment of High levels of prolactin
Prolactin is a hormone that helps in the growth and development of breasts and also causes milk secretion in females. Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet helps stop breast milk secretion in females who have had a stillbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. It acts on a chemical in the brain, dopamine, that is responsible for these high levels of prolactin and stops milk secretion.

Side effects of cabergoline tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Cabergoline

• Nausea
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Vertigo
• Abdominal pain
• Breast pain
• Sleepiness
• Valvulopathy and related disorders
• Dyspepsia
• Gastritis
• Weakness
• Depression
• Postural hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Hot flushes

Concerns

• Onset of action
  Cabergoline starts to show its effect within three hours.
• Duration of effect
  Cabergoline remains effective in the body for 14 days.
• Safe with alcohol?
  Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking Cabergoline as it may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, in difficulty concentrating.
• Is it habit forming?
  No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Cabergoline.
• Usage in pregnancy?
  Cabergoline is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant.
• Usage while breast-feeding?
  Cabergoline is not recommended for use while breastfeeding as it can suppress milk production. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

How to use cabergoline tablet

Take this Cabergoline 0.5 mg in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet is to be taken with food.

How cabergoline tablet works

Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet works by decreasing the release of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates breast milk production. This stops the production of breast milk in case of stillbirth, abortion or miscarriage. Check out these tips for managing your women’s health.

When not to use?

Allergy

Avoid taking Cabergoline 0.5 mg if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.

Hypertension

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure. Cabergoline 0.5 mg is not recommended if you have uncontrolled hypertension as it can worsen your condition.

Heart valve condition

A heart valve condition is when the valve (flaps present in the heart, which allows the blood to flow only in one direction) does not function properly leading to difficulty in blood supply. Cabergoline 0.5 mg is not recommended if you have such a condition as it may worsen your condition.

Fibrosis

Fibrosis is the abnormal scarring or thickening of tissue in or around the internal organs leading to injury. Cabergoline 0.5 mg is not recommended if you have fibrosis affecting the heart, lungs, or stomach, as it can contribute to the progression of fibrosis.

Dosage

• Missed Dose
  Do not miss the dose of Cabergoline 0.5 mg. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.
• Overdose
  Do not take more than the recommended dose. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Cabergoline 0.5 mg.

Interactions

All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.

Interaction with Alcohol

Instructions

Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking Cabergoline 0.5 mg as it may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, in difficulty concentrating.

Interaction with Medicine

• Acebutolol
• Bisoprolol

Disease interactions

Psychosis
Psychosis is a mental condition in which a person gets disconnected from reality. Cabergoline 0.5 mg should be used with caution in such a condition as it can worsen your symptoms such as false beliefs, agitation, and seeing unrealistic things. Your doctor will carefully monitor your condition if you are taking this tablet.

Liver Disease
Cabergoline 0.5 mg is broken down by the liver. Hence it should be used with caution if you have liver problems as it may cause an accumulation of this medicine in the body and increase the risk of side effects. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your liver function during treatment with this medicine.

Hypotension
Hypotension refers to low blood pressure. Cabergoline 0.5 mg should be used cautiously as it may cause hypotension. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor while taking the tablet.

Lab interactions

This is not an exhaustive list of possible drug interactions. You should consult your doctor about all the possible interactions of the drugs you’re taking.

Safety advice

• Alcohol
  Caution is advised when consuming alcohol with Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
• Pregnancy
  Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown low or no adverse effects to the developing baby; however, there are limited human studies.
• Breast feeding
  Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby. Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet is usually not used during breastfeeding because it suppresses lactation.
• Driving
  Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
• Kidney
  Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.
• Liver
  Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

What if you forget to take cabergoline tablet?

If you miss a dose of Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.

General Instructions

• Take Cabergoline 0.5 mg with or without food. Do not break, chew, or crush the tablet. Take Cabergoline as directed by your doctor.
• Avoid taking more than the recommended dose.
• Avoid the consumption of alcohol while taking this medicine due to the increased risk of side effects.
• Your doctor may suggest periodic blood tests to monitor your prolactin levels.

Quick tips

• Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet is used to treat conditions such as infertility or abnormal production of breast milk (galactorrhoea) caused due to excess production of a natural hormone called prolactin.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down.
• Do not take Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet if you are breastfeeding.
• Take it with or after food to avoid side effects such as nausea or indigestion.
• Be cautious while driving or doing anything that requires concentration as Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet can cause dizziness and sleepiness.
• Regular monitoring of blood pressure may be advised during treatment with Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet.

FAQs

Q. What is Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet and what is it used for?

Cabergoline 0.5 mg Tablet contains Cabergoline, which belongs to a group of medicines that reduces the level of prolactin. It is used to treat medical problems such as galactorrhoea due to abnormally high level of prolactin. It is also used to stops breast milk production (lactation) in case of stillbirth, abortion or miscarriage.

Q. How and in what dose should I take Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet?

Take this Cabergoline 0.5 mg, as per the advice of your doctor. The advised dose and duration depend on your medical condition. It is recommended to take this medicine with food or after food, to reduce the chances of nausea or vomiting.

Q. What are the possible side effects of using Cabergoline 0.5 Tablet?

During the first few days of treatment, this medicine may decrease your blood pressure which could make you feel dizzy. So, it is recommended that you change your position slowly when trying to sit, stand or lie down during the initial days of the treatment. Your doctor may suggest you to monitor your blood pressure regularly during these days. The other common side effects are drowsiness, nausea, headache, dizziness, vertigo, stomach pain, indigestion, fatigue, and weakness. If any of these side effects bother you, consult your doctor.