BROMOCRIPTINE

Breast Feeding Summary

Since bromocriptine is indicated for the prevention of physiologic lactation, breast feeding is not possible during therapy (13,14). However, in one report, a mother taking 5 mg/day for a pituitary tumor was able to breast-feed her infant successfully (3). No effects on the infant were mentioned. Because bromocriptine suppresses lactation, the American Academy of Pediatrics considers the drug to be contraindicated during breast feeding (15).

References

1. Turkalj I, Braun P, Krupp P. Surveillance of bromocriptine in pregnancy. JAMA 1982;247:1589–91.
2. Konopka P, Raymond JP, Merceron RE, Seneze J. Continuous administration of bromocriptine in the prevention of neurological complications in pregnant women with prolactinomas. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1983;146:935–8.
3. Canales ES, Garcia IC, Ruiz JE, Zarate A. Bromocriptine as prophylactic therapy in prolactinoma during pregnancy. Fertil Steril 1981;36:524–6.
4. Bergh T, Nillius SJ, Larsson SG, Wide L. Effects of bromocriptine-induced pregnancy on prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors. Acta Endocrinol 1981;98:333.
5. Yuen BH, Cannon W, Sy L, Booth J, Burch P. Regression of pituitary microadenoma during and following bromocriptine therapy: persistent defect in prolactin regulation before and throughout pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982;142:634–9.
6. Maeda T, Ushiroyama T, Okuda K, Fujimoto A, Ueki M, Sugimoto O. Effective bromocriptine treatment of a pituitary macroadenoma during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 1983;61:117–21.
7. Hammond CB, Haney AF, Land MR, van der Merwe JV, Ory SJ, Wiebe RH. The outcome of pregnancy in patients with treated and untreated prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1983;147:148–57.
8. Cundy T, Grundy EN, Melville H, Sheldon J. Bromocriptine treatment of acromegaly following spontaneous conception. Fertil Steril 1984;42:134–6.
9. Randall S, Laing I, Chapman AJ, Shalet SM, Beardwell CG, Kelly WF, Davies D. Pregnancies in women with hyperprolactinaemia: obstetric and endocrinological management of 50 pregnancies in 37 women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1982;89:20–33.
10. Andersen AN, Starup J, Tabor A, Jensen HK, Westergaard JG. The possible prognostic value of serum prolactin increment during pregnancy in hyperprolactinaemic patients. Acta Endocrinol 1983;102:1–5.
11. van Roon E, van der Vijver JCM, Gerretsen G, Hekster REM, Wattendorff RA. Rapid regression of a suprasellar extending prolactinoma after bromocriptine treatment during pregnancy. Fertil Steril 1981;36:173–77.
12. Crosignani P, Ferrari C, Mattei AM. Visual field defects and reduced visual acuity during pregnancy in two patients with prolactinoma: rapid regression of symptoms under bromocriptine. Case reports. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1984;91:821–3.
13. Product information. Parlodel. Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, 1985.
14. Thorbert G, Akerlund M. Inhibition of lactation by cyclofenil and bromocriptine. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1983;90:739–42.
15. Committee on Drugs, American Academy of Pediatrics. The transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics 1994;93:137–50.