Some cabergoline users develop intense urges or unusual compulsive behaviors. If the need to gamble or have sexual urges, excessive shopping, or any other impulse-control problem occurs, consult your doctor immediately. Explain your risk with family members so they can easily get in touch with your doctor.
One of the most prevalent side effects associated with cabergoline is dizziness, yet most of them are manageable, as long as certain preventive measures are taken, including developing a regular sleeping schedule and prioritizing an energy-focused diet.
What is Cabergoline?
Cabergoline Tablets, sold under the brand names Dostinex and Cabaser, is a dopamine receptor agonist. This drug is primarily used in helping to lower levels of prolactin within the body. A high level of the hormone prolactin causes interference in the process of ovulation, menstrual periods, and breast milk production. In males, it interferes with the reproductive system, causing erectile problems. It functions by binding the dopamine receptors within your brain, which consequently results in lowering prolactin and resolves these problems.
It comes as a tablet to be taken orally two times a week. You should take it exactly as your doctor prescribes it and never increase or decrease the dosage without a doctor's approval. It is very important to let your doctor know what other prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, including vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products. You should also let them know if you have any allergies or other medical conditions.
Side effects of this medication include nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. These side effects are mild and usually subside as the body gets used to the medication. More severe side effects are rare and include orthostatic hypotension (a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up) and hallucinations.
People with a history of heart valve problems should use the medication with caution and under close doctor supervision. It can cause a problem with your heart valves, so your doctor will listen to your heart and arrange a scan to check for any problems.
How Does Cabergoline Work?
Cabergoline affects the way the brain responds to prolactin by blocking dopamine receptors. This medication is supplied in the dosage form of 0.5 mg tablets that can be used with or without food. Most patients are exposed to several adverse effects, with dizziness and nausea being one of the common side effects of this medication, especially when started or increased dosages are implemented. For mitigation, patients can rise slowly when getting up from sitting or lying down; they can drink water and avoid those medications which predispose them to low blood pressure.
Cabergoline can also stop a woman's menstrual cycles as it helps regularize them while reducing irregularity. This in turn can heavily increase ovulation and decrease chances of anovulation, that may lead to infertility. Of course, awareness should be gained that this is a medication, which can indeed cause anovulation in women.
Other side effects that are associated with the use of this medication include constipation, abdominal pain, and fatigue. These side effects are usually mild and tend to diminish as the body adjusts to treatment. It is important to keep in mind that a poor diet and lack of exercise can often worsen these symptoms, so it's best to follow a healthy eating plan while using Cabergoline.
It may cause rare psychiatric symptoms, like confusion or hallucinations. These are relatively common in patients who have a history of psychiatric problems. It also brings about a variety of circulatory problems, like Raynaud's phenomenon, wherein the fingers and toes become cold and numb from changes in temperature or stress.
Does Cabergoline Enhance Performance?
Cabergoline is a very potent drug that can improve many facets of quality of life in women with prolactinomas. It is usually administered in combination with other modes of treatment such as surgery or radiotherapy. It might also be combined with weight loss and diet to shrink the size of the tumour.
This drug is effective in most patients and does not have serious side effects, except for a few minor side effects, such as drowsiness or dizziness. The minor side effects tend to disappear over time and normally do not interfere with the patient's daily activities. If you start experiencing dizziness with this drug, you should be quite careful when standing up from a sitting or lying position. This medicine may cause people to become drowsy suddenly, and it can be quite dangerous if you are working or driving.
You should follow your doctor's prescription about taking the medicine. He is most likely to give you a small quantity at first but increase your dosage gradually in order to mitigate side effects. You should always read the printed information leaflet in the package and consult your doctor or pharmacist when you have a question. Interactions with other drugs: There are possible interactions of this medication with other prescribed and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal products. Give your doctor a list of all the drugs you are currently taking.
Does Cabergoline Cause Side Effects?
Cabergoline has some side effects. Some of these are mild, while others can be severe. Among the common side effects are nausea, vomiting, and a general feeling of being unwell. These symptoms can be reduced by taking the medication with food. It may also cause headaches in some patients. These headaches are usually not long-lasting and do not usually need medical attention. It can also cause dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying position. This is more common when first starting the medication or after a dose increase. To reduce this risk, doctors advise patients to lie down for a few minutes before standing up. It may also cause constipation.
Cabergoline may rarely cause psychiatric disorders such as an impulse to feel compulsion or heightened sexual urge. Make sure your family knows this so that they can alert the doctor when you start having such urges out of the blue. It also may lead to heart valve abnormalities in some. This is not common but when it occurs, it should be reported immediately to the doctor.
This oral tablet is available to be taken twice a day with or without food. One must take this medication exactly as their doctor prescribed. Alcohol must not be drunk while taking it since this might contribute to dangerous fluid build-up in the lungs and stomach.