Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Use of Bromocriptine in Hyperprolactinaemic Anovulation and Related Disorders

  • Evaluations on New Drug
  • Published:
Drugs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Bromocriptine has been successfully used to treat hyperprolactinaemic disorders of ovulation; treatment with 5.0 to 7.5mg daily results in normalisation of serum prolactin concentrations and restoration of ovulatory menstruation in most patients with hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea. It is equally effective in hyperprolactinaemic patients with pituitary tumours as in those with normal pituitary x-rays, but the choice of bromocriptine as primary treatment in the former group (especially in those patients who desire pregnancy) is a matter of some controversy and requires careful judgement.

Bromocriptine has also been used, with reported success, in infertility associated with luteal insufficiency, the polycystic ovary syndrome, normoprolactinaemic amenorrhoea and ovulatory infertility. However, its role in the treatment of these disorders will remain uncertain until more extensive, adequately controlled clinical trials are available.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abu-Fadil, S.; Devane, G.; Siler, T.M. and Yen, S.S.C.: Effects of oral contraceptive steroids on pituitary prolactin secretion. Contraception 13: 79 (1976)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aono, T.; Miyake, A.; Shioji, T.; Kinugasa, T.; Onishi, T. and Kurachi, K.: Impaired LH release following exogenous estrogen administration in patients with amenorrhoea — galactorrhoea syndrome. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 42: 696 (1976)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bergh, T.; Nillius, S.J. and Wide, L.: Clinical course and outcome of pregnancy in amenorrhoeic women with hyperprolactinaemia and pituitary tumours. British Medical Journal 1:875 (1978)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand, G. and Tolis, G.: Surgical treatment of prolactinomas; in Tolis and Naftolin (Eds) Clinical Neuroendocrinology, in press (Raven Press, New York 1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Besser, G.M. and Thorner, M.O.: Bromocriptine in the treatment of hyperprolactinaemia — hypogonadism syndromes. Postgraduate Medical Journal 52 (Suppl. 1): 64 (1976)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beumont, P.; Bruwer, J.; Pimstone, B.; Vinik, A. and Utian, W.: Bromergocryptine in the treatment of phenothiasine-induced galactorrhoea. British Journal of Psychiatry 126: 285 (1975)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bohnet, H.G., Dahlen, H.G.; Wuttke, W. and Schneider, H.P.G.: Hyperprolactinaemic anovulatory syndrome. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 42: 132 (1976)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Child, D.F.; Gordon, H.; Mashiter, K. and Joplin, G.F.: Pregnancy, prolactin and pituitary tumours. British Medical Journal 1: 604 (1975)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corbey, R.S.; Cruysberg, J.R.M. and Rolland, R.: Visual abnormalities in pregnancy following bromocriptine medication. Obstetrics and Gynecology 50 (Suppl. 1): 695 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbey, R.S.; Lequin, R.M. and Rolland, R.: Hyperprolactinaemia and secondary amenorrhoea; in Crosignani and Robyn (Eds) Prolactin and Human Reproduction, p.203 (Academic Press, London, New York, San Francisco 1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosignani, P.G.; Reschini. E.; Lombroso, G.C.; Arosio, M. and Peracchi, M.: Comparison of placebo and bromocriptine in the treatment of patients with normoprolactinaemic amenorrhoea. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 85: 773 (1978)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daughaday, W.H.: The adenohypophysis; in Williams (Ed) A Textbook of Endocrinology, p.31 (Sanders, Philadelphia 1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Pozo, E., Wyss. H.; Lancranfan. I.; Obdensky, W. and Varga, L.: In Crosignani and Mishell (Eds Ovulation in the Human, p.297 (Academic Press. London 1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fluckiger, E.: Drugs and control of prolactin secretion; in Boynes and Griffiths (Eds) Prolactin and Carcinogenesis, p.162 (Alpha Omega Alpha, Cardiff 1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Franks, S.: Disorders of human prolactin secretion, M.D. Thesis, University of London (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Franks, S.: Prolactin; in Gray and James (Ed) Hormones in Blood, p.294 (Academic Press, London 1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Franks, S. and Jacobs, H.S.: Characterisation and management of hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea; in Crosignani and Robyn (Eds) Prolactin and Human Reproduction, p.245 (Academic Press, London, New York, San Francisco 1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Franks, S.; Murray. MA.F.; Jequier, A.M.; Steele. S.J.; Nabarro, J.D.N. and Jacobs. H.S.: Incidence and significance of hyperprolactinaemia in women with amenorrhoea. Clinical Endocrinology 4: 597 (1975)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franks, S.; Nabarro, J.D.N. and Jacobs, H.S.: Prevalence and presentation of hyperprolactinaemia in patients with ‘functionless’ pituitary tumours. Lancet 1: 778 (1977)a

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franks, S.; Jacobs, H.S.; Hull, M.G.R.; Steele, S.J. and Nabarro, J.D.N.: Management of hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 84: 241 (1977)b

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franks, S.; Jacobs. H.S.; Martin, N. and Nabarro, J.D.N.: Hyperprolactinaemia and impotence. Clinical Endocrinology 8: 277 (1978)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friesen, H.G. and Tolis, G.: The use of bromocriptine in the galactorrhoea-amenorrhoea syndromes: the Canadian co-operative study. Clinical Endocrinology 6 (Suppl): 915 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gemzell, C.: Induction of ovulation in infertile women with pituitary tumours. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 121: 311 (1975)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glass, M.R.; Shaw, R.W.; Williams, J.W.; Butt, W.R.; Logan-Edwards, R. and London, D.R.: Control of gonadotrophin release in women with hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea: effect of oestrogens and progesterone in the LH and FSH response to LHRH. Clinical Endocrinology 5: 521 (1976)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffith, R.W.; Turkalj, I. and Braun, P.: Outcome of pregnancy in mothers given bromocriptine. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 5: 227 (1978)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, J.; Beauregard, H. and Robert. F.: Prolactin secreting pituitary adenomas: transsphenoidal microsurgical treatment; in Robyn and Harter (Ed) Progress in Prolactin Physiology and Pathology (Elsevier-North Holland, Amsterdam 1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs. H.S.; Franks, S.; Murray, M.A.F.; Hull, M.G.R.; Steele, S.J. and Nabarro, J.D.N.: Clinical and endocrine features of hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea. Clinical Endocrinology 5: 439 (1976)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, H.S.; Knuth, U.; Hull, M.G.R. and Franks, S.: Post oral contraceptive amenorrhoea — cause or coincidence? British Medical Journal 2: 940 (1977)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, H.S. and Wright, C.S.: Bromocriptine in obstetrics and gynecology. British Journal of Hospital Medicine. In press (1978)

  • Jewelewicz, R.; Zimmerman. E.A. and Carmel, P.W.: Conservative management of a pituitary tumour during pregnancy following induction of ovulation with gonadotropins. Fertility and Sterility 23: 35 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Keye, W.R.; Chang, R.J. and Jaffe, R.B.: Prolactin secreting pituitary adenomas in women with amenorrhoea or galactorrhoea. Obstetric and Gynaecological Survey 32/11: 727 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleinberg, D.L.; Noel, G.L. and Frantz, A.G.: Galactorrhoea: 235 cases including 48 with pituitary tumours. New England Journal of Medicine 296: 589 (1977)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lenton, E.A.; Sobowale, O.S. and Cooke, I.D.: Prolactin concentrations in ovulatory but infertile women: treatment with bromocriptine. British Medical Journal 2: 1179 (1977)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mornex, R.; Orgiazzi, J.; Hugues, B.; Gagnaire, J.C. and Claustrat, B.: Normal pregnancies after treatment of hyperprolactinaemia with bromoergocryptine, despite suspected pituitary tumours. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 47: 290 (1978)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pepperell, P.J.; Evans, J.H.; Brown, J.B.; Smith, M.A.; Healy, D. and Burger, H.G.: Serum prolactin levels and the value of bromocriptine in the treatment of anovulatory infertility. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 84: 58 (1977)a

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pepperell, R.J.; McBain, J.C.; Winstone, S.M.; Smith, M.A. and Brown, J.B.: Corpus luteum function in early pregnancy following ovulation induction with bromocriptine. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 84: 898 (1977)b

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Posner, B.I.: in James(Ed) Endocrinology, Proceedings of V International Congress of Endocrinology, vol.2. p.178 (Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam 1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • del Pozo, E.; Wyss, H.; Lancranfan, I.; Obdensky, W. and Varga, L.; in Crosignani and Mishell (Eds) Ovulation in the Human, p.297 (Academic Press, London1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichlin, S.: The Prolactinoma Problem. New England Journal of Medicine 300: 313 (1979)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seppala, M. and Hironven, E.: Raised prolactin levels associated with hirsutism and amenorrhoea. British Medical Journal 4: 144 (1975)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seppala, M.; Hironven, E. and Ranta, T.: Hyperprolactinaemia and luteal insufficiency. Lancet 1: 229 (1976)af

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seppala, M.; Hironven, E. and Ranta, T.: Bromocriptine treatment of secondary amenorrhoea. Lancet 1: 1154 (1976) b

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorner, M.O. and Besser, G.M.: Hyperprolactinaemia and gonadal function: results of bromocriptine treatment; in Crosignani and Robyn (Eds) Prolactin and Human Reproduction (Academic Press, London 1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorner, M.O.; McNeilly, A.S.; Hagen, C. and Besser, G.M.: Long term treatment of galactorrhoea and hypogonadism with bromocriptine. British Medical Journal 2: 419 (1974)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorner, M.O., Besser, G.M.; Jones, A.; Oncie, J. and Jones, A.E.: Bromocriptine treatment of female infertility: report of 13 pregnancies. British Medical Journal 4: 694 (1975)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tolis, G. and Franks, S.: Physiology and pathology of prolactin secretion; in Tolis(Ed) Clinical Neuroendocrinology: A Pathophysiologic Approach, in press (Raven Press, New York 1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolis, G. and Naftolin, F.: Induction of menstruation with bromocriptine in patients with euprolactinaemic amenorrhoea. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 126: 426 (1976)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    S. Franks

Authors
  1. S. Franks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Franks, S. Use of Bromocriptine in Hyperprolactinaemic Anovulation and Related Disorders. Drugs 17, 337–348 (1979). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-197917050-00003

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-197917050-00003

Keywords

Search

Navigation