Uses: Potent dopamine receptor agonist
Chemical Name: Cabergoline
Quantity: 4 tabs
What is Dostinex and how is it used?
Dostinex (cabergoline) is a dopamine receptor antagonist used to treat a hormone imbalance in which there is too much prolactin in the blood (also called hyperprolactinemia). DOSTINEX Tablets contain cabergoline, a dopamine receptor agonist. The chemical name for cabergoline is 1-[(6-allylergolin-8β-yl)- carbonyl]-1-[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]-3-ethylurea. Its empirical formula is C26H37N5O2 and its molecular weight is 451.62. The structural formula is as follows:
Cabergoline is a white powder soluble in ethyl alcohol, chloroform, and N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF); slightly soluble in 0.1N hydrochloric acid; very slightly soluble in n-hexane; and insoluble in water. DOSTINEX Tablets, for oral administration, contain 0.5 mg of cabergoline. Inactive ingredients consist of leucine, USP, and lactose, NF DOSTINEX Tablets are indicated for the treatment of hyperprolactinemic disorders, either idiopathic or due to pituitary adenomas
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
The recommended dosage of DOSTINEX Tablets for initiation of therapy is 0.25 mg twice a week. Dosage may be increased by 0.25 mg twice weekly up to a dosage of 1 mg twice a week according to the patient's serum prolactin level. Before initiating treatment, cardiovascular evaluation should be performed and echocardiography should be considered to assess for valvular disease.
Dosage increases should not occur more rapidly than every 4 weeks, so that the physician can assess the patient's response to each dosage level. If the patient does not respond adequately, and no additional benefit is observed with higher doses, the lowest dose that achieved maximal response should be used and other therapeutic approaches considered. Patients receiving long term treatment with DOSTINEX should undergo periodic assessment of their cardiac status and echocardiography should be considered.
After a normal serum prolactin level has been maintained for 6 months, DOSTINEX may be discontinued, with periodic monitoring of the serum prolactin level to determine whether or when treatment with DOSTINEX should be reinstituted. The durability of efficacy beyond 24 months of therapy with DOSTINEX has not been established.
What are side effects of Dostinex?
Common side effects of Dostinex include:
nausea,
vomiting,
stomach upset or pain,
indigestion,
constipation,
gas,
dizziness,
spinning sensation,
lightheadedness,
drowsiness,
nervousness,
tiredness,
headache,
depressed mood,
hot flashes,
numbness or tingly feeling, or
dry mouth.
Tell your doctor if you experience rare but serious side effects of Dostinex including:
shortness of breath,
persistent cough,
swelling ankles or feet,
unusual tiredness,
mental/mood changes (such as nervousness),
unusual strong urges (such as increased gambling, increased sexual urges),
vision changes,
painful menses, or
breast pain.
