Cabergoline is orally administrated, though it's taken in tablets, and your physician will instruct you on how to take the appropriate dosage.

These drugs are also known to produce a host of side effects like dizziness after standing and headache. There can also be constipation, tiredness and sore breasts due to menstruation.

Dosage

Most medicines can cause unwanted side effects, but these do not occur in every patient. A list is provided in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. These are usually mild and improve as you get used to the treatment. If they continue or are troublesome, speak to your doctor.

Cabergoline Tablets can sometimes lead to the alteration of emotional and behavioural control over a person. For example, impulsive behavior like excessive desire to gamble or hyper sexuality may result from this effect. You must advise your friends and family members on this risk, so that if anything changes about your behaviour, they can report back to the doctor.

This drug can also have effects on the liver so it should be avoided in case of hepatitis and cirrhosis. This medicine is also generally not prescribed in pregnancy unless in specific cases of the benefit/risk ratio to the mother-to-be is accepted by the practitioner.

Cabergoline may rarely affect the heart. You should, therefore, have a heart check before you start this treatment and your doctor should listen to your heart every year if you need long-term treatment. It is also important to let your doctor know if you are taking any other drugs, including herbal remedies and vitamins, as they may interact with this drug.

Side effects

Cabergoline works in the body by binding to dopamine receptors and preventing the release of prolactin. It also shrinks the size of a pituitary tumour. Your doctor will check your progress by conducting examination and taking blood and urine tests periodically. You will also require having an echocardiogram, lung function test, and an X-ray at times if you are on this medication for a long period.

Most drugs cause unwanted side effects, though these often lessen or go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. These include dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches. Report these or any other side effects that are severe or do not go away to your doctor.

If you are concerned about the potential for a headache, ask your pharmacist to recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever that is safe for you to take with this drug. It's a good idea to drink plenty of fluids and get enough sleep to help prevent headaches while you are taking this medicine.

This drug results in a minimal menstrual period in women and it is not known, if the treatment leads to reduced fertility in female or male population. Women shall take proper effective contraceptives till the times when they periods are resumed and they shall continue till their doctor advises them as to when such medication may stop.

Precautions

Cabergoline acts by blocking the dopamine receptor in the brain and, thereby, does not allow prolactin release. It is prescribed for treating many types of medical conditions brought on by overproduction of the hormone prolactin. These medical conditions include menstrual problems, infertilities both in women and men, and pituitary prolactinomas - a tumour on the pituitary gland. Cabergoline can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Drowsiness or dizziness may result from this medicine, so be sure to avoid operating machinery or driving. Also, drink plenty of water and take a balanced diet while on the medication. Serious side effects would be prevented thereby.

Before initiating this drug, your doctor will check you for any conditions that may make you unsuitable for the use of this drug. The heart's functioning will be monitored using an electrocardiogram or EKG, which detects electrical activity within the heart. It is not known if this medication is excreted in breast milk, so its use is not recommended for breastfeeding women.

Before taking this medication, inform your doctor and pharmacist of all other prescription and non-prescription medications you use, including drugs without a prescription, especially ergot medications. Also, if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any type of food, dye, preservative, or animal, inform your doctor and pharmacist.

Interactions

Cabergoline inhibits endothelin receptors ET-A and ET-B on the inner lining of blood vessels. It diminishes vasoconstriction and increases oxygen delivery to tissues, alleviating symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue in PAH. It may also be employed in off-label usage for secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, a phenomenon that results in paroxysmal episodes of tingling of the fingers and toes.

This drug is secreted into the breast milk and, therefore should not be used during breastfeeding. This medication may interact with a wide range of drugs by either reducing their effect or the side effects produced by them. Discuss all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies that you are currently taking with your doctor and pharmacist. Also tell them about your allergies, whether to food, dyes, or preservatives.

During chronic therapy, blood tests should be done regularly to check liver function and hemoglobin levels. These are particularly important if you have a history of liver or kidney disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease. Cabergoline may cause a serious reaction in people with certain types of anemia, especially severe forms. It can also raise your risk of fluid retention, which can lead to swelling in the legs and abdomen.

This medication should not be taken by pregnant women or those who plan to become pregnant, as it is unsafe. It may increase the chance of having a miscarriage or other complications in early pregnancy. Dopamine agonists, such as Cabergoline, should not be used during pregnancy except when the benefits outweigh the risks.