Cabergoline: what it treats and how to use it safely

Cabergoline is a prescription medicine that lowers prolactin by activating dopamine receptors. Doctors prescribe it most often for high prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) and prolactin-secreting tumors. Lowering prolactin can restore normal menstrual cycles, help fertility, and shrink small prolactinomas. Some specialists have also used cabergoline for other conditions, but you should only take it when a doctor recommends it.

How it’s used and common dosing

Most people start cabergoline at a low dose to reduce side effects. A typical starting schedule is 0.25 mg twice a week. Your doctor may raise the dose gradually, often up to 0.5–1 mg two times weekly depending on your response and blood tests. For some conditions doctors use different regimens, so follow the exact plan you get from your provider. Never change the dose on your own or stop suddenly without medical advice.

Your doctor will check prolactin levels after a few weeks and again at intervals to see if the dose is working. If prolactin returns to normal and the tumor shrinks, many people can continue a low maintenance dose. In other cases the medicine may be stopped under medical supervision.

Side effects, risks and practical tips

Common side effects are nausea, headache, dizziness, and sleepiness. These usually lessen after the first few doses. Because cabergoline can lower blood pressure, stand up slowly and avoid sudden moves that cause lightheadedness. Don’t drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.

Less common but serious risks include heart valve problems and, rarely, lung or scarring issues. These risks rise with higher doses and long-term use, especially when used for Parkinson’s disease at higher doses. If you need long-term treatment, your doctor may recommend periodic heart checks like an echocardiogram.

Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or lung problems. If you become pregnant or plan to get pregnant, discuss this right away. Cabergoline affects lactation and is handled differently during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Drug interactions matter. Combining cabergoline with certain antipsychotics, strong antibiotics that affect liver enzymes, or other dopamine drugs can change its effects. Always give your doctor a full list of medicines, supplements, and herbal products.

Practical tips: take cabergoline with food if it upsets your stomach, keep to the schedule your doctor gives, report persistent dizziness, chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath immediately, and don’t buy cabergoline from sites that don’t require a prescription. Regular blood tests and follow-up visits make treatment safer and more effective.

If you have questions about dosing, side effects, or monitoring, bring them up at your next appointment. A short conversation with your prescriber can prevent common problems and help you get the best result from cabergoline.