Bromocriptine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Bromocriptine is an ergot derivative sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for acromegaly, adenoma and amenorrhea. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Ergot Derivative
- Treats (across its forms)
- Acromegaly, Adenoma and Amenorrhea
- Available as
- Tablet · Capsule
- Sold as
- 3 products — Bromocriptine Mesylate, Cycloset and Parlodel
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- about 4.85 hours
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $52 for a 30-count supply — not your price
How Cycloset is dosed
From the FDA label for Cycloset (application NDA020866). Other bromocriptine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Taken within two hours after waking in the morning with food ( 2.1 ) Initial dose is one tablet (0.8 mg) daily increased weekly by one tablet until maximal tolerated daily dose of 1.6 to 4.8 mg is achieved. ( 2.2 ) Limit dose to 1.6 mg daily during concomitant use of a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor. Avoid concomitant use with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosing The recommended dose of CYCLOSET is 1.6 mg to 4.8 mg administered once daily within two hours after waking in the morning. CYCLOSET should be taken with food to potentially reduce gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea. If the morning dose is missed, instruct patients to take their usual dose the following morning. Doses of CYCLOSET should not be doubled the following morning. 2.2 Titration CYCLOSET should be initiated at one tablet (0.8 mg) and increased by one tablet per week until a maximum daily dose of 6 tablets (4.8 mg) or until the maximal tolerated number of tablets between 2 and 6 per day is reached. 2.3 Use with Concomitant Therapy CYCLOSET dose should not exceed 1.6 mg once daily during concomitant use of a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g., erythromycin). Avoid concomitant use of CYCLOSET and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., azole antimycotics, HIV protease inhibitors) and ensure adequate washout of the strong CYP3A4 inhibitor drug before initiating CYCLOSET treatment [see Drug…
Everything below is the FDA label for Cycloset (tablet). Bromocriptine is also sold as capsule, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Cycloset side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Psychotic Disorders [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Risks in Postpartum Women [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] In controlled clinical trials, adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients treated with CYCLOSET and reported more commonly than in patients treated with placebo, included nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and headache. ( 6.1 ) Postmarketing reports with higher doses of bromocriptine used for other indications include psychotic disorders, hallucinations, and fibrotic complications. ( 6.2 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact VeroScience, LLC at 1-888-621-1215 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates reported in one clinical trial may not be easily compared to those rates reported in another clinical trial and may not reflect the rates actually observed in clinical practice. The CYCLOSET safety trial was a 52-week, placebo-controlled study. A total of 3,070 patients were randomized to CYCLOSET (titrated to 1.6 to 4.8 mg daily, as tolerated) or placebo. The study population had a mean baseline age of 60 years (range…
Who shouldn’t take Cycloset
CYCLOSET is contraindicated in: Patients with known hypersensitivity to bromocriptine, ergot-related drugs, or any of the excipients in CYCLOSET. Patients with syncopal migraine. Bromocriptine increases the likelihood of a hypotensive episode among patients with syncopal migraine. Loss of consciousness during a migraine may reflect dopamine receptor hypersensitivity. CYCLOSET is a dopamine receptor agonist and may, therefore, potentiate the risk for syncope in these patients. Postpartum patients. Serious and life-threatening adverse reactions have been reported with bromocriptine use in this population [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) , Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . Lactating patients. CYCLOSET contains bromocriptine which inhibits lactation [see Use in Specific Populations (8.2) ] . Hypersensitivity to ergot-related drugs, bromocriptine or to any of the excipients in CYCLOSET. ( 4 ) History of syncopal migraines. ( 4 ) Postpartum patients ( 4 , 5.7 ) Lactating patients ( 4 , 8.2 )
Cycloset drug interactions
The active ingredient in CYCLOSET (bromocriptine mesylate) is highly bound to serum proteins. Therefore, CYCLOSET may increase the unbound fraction of other concomitantly used highly protein-bound therapies (e.g., salicylates, sulfonamides, chloramphenicol and probenecid), which may alter their effectiveness and risk for side effects. CYCLOSET is a dopamine receptor agonist. Concomitant use of dopamine receptor antagonists, such as neuroleptics (e.g., phenothiazines, butyrophenones, thioxanthenes), or metoclopramide may diminish the effectiveness of CYCLOSET, and CYCLOSET may diminish the effectiveness of these other therapies. The concurrent use of CYCLOSET with these agents has not been studied in clinical trials and is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ]. CYCLOSET in combination with ergot-related drugs may cause an increase in the occurrence of ergot-related side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, and may also reduce the effectiveness of these ergot therapies when used to treat migraine. The concurrent use of these ergot agents within 6 hours of CYCLOSET dosing is not recommended. CYCLOSET is extensively metabolized by the liver via CYP3A4. Therefore, potent inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 may increase or reduce the circulating levels of CYCLOSET, respectively. Use caution when co-administering drugs that are inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4. CYCLOSET dose should not exceed 1.6 mg once daily during concomitant use of a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g., erythromycin). Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., azole antimycotics, HIV protease inhibitors) with CYCLOSET should be avoided. Ensure adequate washout of the strong CYP3A4 inhibitor drug before initiating CYCLOSET treatment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . There are postmarketing reports of hypertension and tachycardia when bromocriptine was co-administered with sympathomimetic drugs (e.g., phenylpropanolamine and isometheptene) in postpartum women. There are limited clinical trial data supporting the safety of co-administering sympathomimetic drugs and CYCLOSET for more than 10 days. Therefore, concomitant use of these agents with CYCLOSET for more than 10 days duration is not recommended. Also, there are limited clinical trial data supporting the safety of selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B (5-HT 1B ) agonists (e.g., sumatriptan) used concurrently with CYCLOSET, and the concomitant use of these agents with CYCLOSET should be avoided. May increase the unbound fraction of highly protein-bound therapies, altering their effectiveness and safety profiles. ( 7 ) May increase ergot-related side effects or reduce ergot effectiveness for migraines if co-administered within 6 hours of ergot-related drugs. ( 7 ) Extensively metabolized by CYP3A4. Limit CYCLOSET dose to 1.6 mg/day during concomitant use of moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors. Avoid concomitant use of CYCLOSET with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. ( 2.3 , 7 )
Every bromocriptine product we track (3)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $52 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $52 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $52 | View → |
What bromocriptine pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MYLAN;7096 | 5 mg | brown, white | capsule | — |
| E280;25 | 2.5 mg | white | round | — |
| PAD;0106 | 2.5 mg | white | round | — |
| E280;25 | 2.5 mg | white | round | — |
| C;9 | 0.8 mg | white | round | — |
| 102;PARLODEL5mg | 5 mg | brown, white | capsule | — |
Bromocriptine recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
How long bromocriptine keeps
No bromocriptine label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does bromocriptine expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsBromocriptine and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for bromocriptine: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadBromocriptine is usually not used during breastfeeding because it suppresses lactation. The indication of lactation suppression has been withdrawn in the U.S. and discouraged in other countries because it increases the risk of maternal stroke, seizures, cardiovascular disorders, death and possibly psychosis.A low dose of 2.5 mg once daily has been used for 3 days to decrease overproduction of milk. The drug was undetectable in milk with this dosage and infants had no adverse reactions, but the safety of this use is not clearly established.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised January 15, 2026. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about bromocriptine
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 554 reports naming bromocriptine, and the FDA flagged 86% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- nausea37 reports
- headache33 reports
- vomiting32 reports
- pyrexia29 reports
- drug exposure during pregnancy25 reports
- neuroleptic malignant syndrome24 reports
- dizziness21 reports
- fatigue21 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean bromocriptine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
How long bromocriptine stays in your system
The elimination half-life of bromocriptine is about 4.85 hours. Single value from one small study (5 healthy fasted adults, single 5 mg dose); the label reports it simply as the "elimination half-life" and gives no separate distribution/terminal phases. Bromocriptine is not a prodrug. It has an active metabolite profile from extensive first-pass CYP3A metabolism, but the label explicitly states the pharmacokinetics of its metabolites "have not been reported," so no metabolite half-life is available — do not assume the parent value covers them. Special populations: the label says the effect of renal impairment, hepatic impairment, age, race, and gender on PK was NOT evaluated. It notes renal impairment likely has little impact (only ~6% renal excretion), but hepatic impairment may increase bromocriptine plasma levels since it is cleared mainly by metabolism, so caution is advised.
Bromocriptine Mesylate Tablet — DailyMed Label, Clinical Pharmacology / Pharmacokinetics ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Cycloset?
Cycloset (Bromocriptine Mesylate) is an ergot derivative used to treat Acromegaly, Adenoma, Amenorrhea, Galactorrhea.
What kind of drug is bromocriptine?
The FDA classifies bromocriptine as an ergot derivative. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
How long does bromocriptine stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of bromocriptine is about 4.85 hours — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. Single value from one small study (5 healthy fasted adults, single 5 mg dose); the label reports it simply as the "elimination half-life" and gives no separate distribution/terminal phases. Bromocriptine is not a prodrug. It has an active metabolite profile from extensive first-pass CYP3A metabolism, but the label explicitly states the pharmacokinetics of its metabolites "have not been reported," so no metabolite half-life is available — do not assume the parent value covers them. Special populations: the label says the effect of renal impairment, hepatic impairment, age, race, and gender on PK was NOT evaluated. It notes renal impairment likely has little impact (only ~6% renal excretion), but hepatic impairment may increase bromocriptine plasma levels since it is cleared mainly by metabolism, so caution is advised. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take bromocriptine with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run bromocriptine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is bromocriptine sold under?
We track 3 bromocriptine-containing products in the U.S.: Bromocriptine Mesylate, Cycloset and Parlodel. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does bromocriptine come in?
Across the brands we track, bromocriptine is currently marketed as tablet and capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic bromocriptine?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic bromocriptine product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has bromocriptine been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 1 recall record whose product description mentions bromocriptine. The most recent: Bromocriptine Mesylate Capsules (Oct 23, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Bromocriptine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/bromocriptine
- MLA
- “Bromocriptine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/bromocriptine.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for bromocriptine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.