Bromocriptine, an ergoline derivative, is a dopamine agonist that is used in the treatment of pituitary tumors and Parkinson's disease. One of dopamine's effects on the pituitary is as an antagonist of prolactin production by lactotrophs.

Amenorrhea, female infertility, galactorrhea, hypogonadism, and acromegaly may all be caused by pituitary problems, such as hyperprolactinaemia, and therefore, these problems may be treated by this drug. It is also used following stillbirth to suppress the mother's production of breast milk as that may add to her distress. Because of prolactin's role in stimulating proliferation of the T-lymphocytes of the immune system, bromocryptine has also been used to suppress the immune sustem in organ transplant patients.Clodi M, Kotzmann H, Riedl M, Schmidt A, Barnas U, Muhlbacher F, Mustafa G, Horl WH, Waldhausl W, Mayer G, Luger A., 1997. The long-acting dopamine agonist bromocriptine mesylate as additive immunosuppressive drug after kidney transplantation. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1997 Apr;12(4):748-52.

Because of its effects as a dopamine agonist, bromocriptine has potential use in treating addiction to cocaine, a drug that exhibits its own effects by blocking dopamine reuptake. Although it has negligible subjective effects when administered alone, studies show it has the potential to significantly ease the cocaine withdrawal syndrome.Campbell A, Baldessarini RJ, Cremens C, Teicher MH, Marsh E, Kula NS, 1989. Bromocriptine antagonizes behavioral effects of cocaine in the rat. Neuropsychopharmacology 1989 Sep; 2(3):209-24.KL Preston, JT Sullivan, EC Strain and GE Bigelow, 1992. Effects of cocaine alone and in combination with bromocriptine in human cocaine abusers. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1992 Jul;262(1):279-91.

External links

• NIH/Medline

Notes and references