Bromocriptine, a medication that lowers high prolactin levels, is used to treat pituitary tumors that raise proloactin levels as well as to treat Parkinson's disease, a nervous system disorder, acromegaly, overproduction of human growth hormone, and type 2 diabetes. While bromocriptine was once used to stop milk production in women who had given birth who were not interested in breastfeeding, the drug is not longer used for that purpose, as fatalities occurred from this use, the National Institutes of Health warns. Bromocriptine can cause a number of side effects even when used as directed.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
The most common side effect of bromocriptine, nausea, affecting 18 to 49 percent of people, is lessened when the drug is started slowly and increased gradually, the Massachusetts General Hospital Neuroendocrine Clinical Center explains. Other common gastrointestinal side effects include constipation, affecting 3 to 14 percent; vomiting, affecting 2 to 5 percent; abdominal cramps, affecting 5 percent; and indigestion and loss of appetite, affecting 4 percent. Diarrhea affects 3 percent and gastrointestinal bleeding occurs in less than 2 percent, Drugs.com states. Other potential gastrointestinal effects include dry mouth, vomiting blood and black, tarry stools.
Central Nervous System Effects
Headache occurs in 19 percent of people taking bromocriptine, Drugs.com reports. Dizziness affects 17 percent of people, with fatigue occurring in 7 percent and lightheadedness in 5 percent. Less frequent side effects include vertigo, a sense that the room is spinning, insomnia, numbness, tingling and reduced cold tolerance. Seizures were reported in 72 women after giving birth, often preceded by unrelenting headache.
Cardiovascular Effects
Low blood pressure and fainting occurred in as many as 30 percent of women taking bromocriptine after delivery, Drugs.com reports. Heart arrhythmia such as rapid heartbeat and bradycardia occur rarely, as well as fluid accumulation around the heart and lungs. Stroke and heart attack occur rarely as well.
Psychiatric Effects
Psychiatric disturbances occur mainly in people with Parkinson's disease and include dementia, hallucinations, which may persist for several weeks after drug discontinuation according to Drugs.com, and delusional psychosis. Paranoia, nightmares, depression, confusion and anxiety may also occur.
Respiratory Effects
The most common respiratory effect, nasal congestion, affects 3 percent of people, Drugs.com notes. Shortness of breath, thickening of the pleura, the lining of the lungs, and fluid in the lungs can also occur. Leaking cerebrospinal fluid from the nose can occur after pituitary radiation to treat tumors.
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