Description
About Cabgolin 0.25 mg
Cabgolin 0.25 mg is a prescription tablet containing 0.25 mg of cabergoline, made by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, used to treat raised prolactin levels caused by a pituitary adenoma or with no identifiable cause. Its low strength suits the opening weeks of treatment and people who stay well controlled on small weekly doses.
How does Cabgolin work?
Prolactin is released by the pituitary, a pea-sized gland under the brain, and its output is normally restrained by dopamine. Cabergoline acts like a long-lasting form of dopamine on the pituitary, so prolactin production falls and stays low between doses. Sustained suppression lets the ovaries or testes work normally again and, in many patients, shrinks a prolactinoma over the following months.
Tests before you start
- A repeat prolactin blood test, ideally taken in the morning and not right after exercise or stress.
- Thyroid and kidney function, a pregnancy test where relevant, and a review of medicines that raise prolactin.
- An MRI of the pituitary when a tumor is suspected, and an eye-field check if it is large.
- A heart examination, usually with an echocardiogram, to exclude valve disease before an ergot-derived drug is used.
How to take Cabgolin 0.25 mg
Most adults start with 0.25 mg twice weekly, three or four days apart, swallowed with food. Your doctor reviews prolactin about every 4 weeks and may increase the dose in steps of 0.25 mg per dose; few people need more than 1 mg a week. Do not change the dose yourself or take it more often than prescribed. For doses of 0.5 mg and above, Cabgolin 0.5 mg or Caberlin 0.5 mg is the more convenient strength.
Effects in women and men
Women commonly find that periods become regular and nipple discharge stops within a couple of months, and ovulation may return before the first period, so discuss contraception or pregnancy plans early. Men usually notice improved sex drive and erections as testosterone recovers, though this can take several months. In both sexes, bone density tends to improve once hormone levels are back to normal.
Who should not take it?
Cabgolin is unsuitable if you have a cabergoline or ergot allergy, high blood pressure that is not controlled, a history of heart valve problems, or scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs, pericardium or retroperitoneum. It needs care in severe liver disease, low blood pressure, stomach ulcers, Raynaud’s syndrome and serious psychiatric illness. Tell your doctor promptly if you conceive; treatment is usually stopped, though people with large tumors need specialist follow-up through pregnancy. Do not use it while breastfeeding.
What are the side effects?
Nausea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, constipation and indigestion are most common, especially early on. Low mood, drowsiness and lightheadedness when standing can also occur. Get medical help quickly for shortness of breath, a cough that does not go away, chest or flank pain, swelling of the legs, fainting, or new compulsive behaviors such as gambling or overspending.
Interactions
Tell your doctor about antipsychotic medicines, metoclopramide, macrolide antibiotics, blood pressure tablets, ergotamine-type migraine medicines and any alcohol or recreational drug use, as these can weaken cabergoline or add to its side effects.
Pack sizes and storage
Packed 4 tablets to a strip and sold in packs of 12, 24 or 36 tablets, from $21. Keep in a cool, dry place below 77°F (25°C), out of the reach of children.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink alcohol while taking Cabgolin?
Keep it light, as alcohol can add to dizziness and nausea, particularly in the first weeks.
Is it used for anything else?
Specialists sometimes use cabergoline off-label in acromegaly, but its labeled use is high prolactin.
Which equivalents are listed?
Caberlin 0.25 mg is an alternative brand of the same strength; more products are in the More Product category.
For information only. Cabgolin 0.25 mg is a prescription medicine, and treatment for high prolactin should be supervised by a doctor who can arrange blood tests and scans.