From the Guidelines
Cabergoline is primarily marketed under the trade name Dostinex, though it may also be available as Cabaser or under generic names depending on the region. The medication is used to treat hyperprolactinemia, and the typical starting dosage is 0.25 mg twice weekly, which can be gradually increased if needed, with most patients requiring 0.5 to 1 mg twice weekly for effective treatment 1. For patients with CYP resistant to standard doses of cabergoline, graduated dose increments of up to 3.5 mg per week or up to 7 mg per week in exceptional cases may be offered, as indicated by a strong recommendation with moderate-quality evidence 1. Some key points to consider when prescribing cabergoline include:
- The medication should be taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal side effects
- Patients should be monitored for potential adverse effects including nausea, dizziness, and rarely, cardiac valve abnormalities with long-term use at higher doses
- Dosage adjustments may be necessary based on prolactin levels and clinical response
- Treatment typically continues until the underlying condition is resolved or stabilized It's also important to note that high-dose cabergoline is reportedly well tolerated, and doses of up to 7 mg per week have been used to successfully treat CYP with prolactinoma, although others report little benefit of cabergoline doses above 3.5 mg per week in adults 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The recommended dosage of cabergoline tablets for initiation of therapy is 0.25 mg twice a week. Cabergoline tablets are white, scored, oblong tablets containing 0.5 mg cabergoline.
The trade name of Cabergoline is Dostinex.
- The available dosage is 0.5 mg tablets. The dosages of Cabergoline are as follows:
- Initiation of therapy: 0.25 mg twice a week
- Maximum dosage: 1 mg twice a week 2 2
From the Research
Trade Names and Dosages of Cabergoline
- Cabergoline is known by the trade name Dostinex 3
- The typical dosage of cabergoline for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia is 0.5 to 1.0 mg twice weekly 3
- In some cases, the dosage may be increased to 2-3 mg/week 4, 5
- For the prevention of puerperal lactation, a single dose of 1.0 mg cabergoline is effective 3
- The dosage of cabergoline may need to be adjusted based on the individual patient's response to treatment and the presence of any side effects 6, 7
Efficacy and Tolerability
- Cabergoline has been shown to be effective in normalizing serum prolactin levels in patients with hyperprolactinemia 3, 6, 4, 5
- The drug is generally well-tolerated, with common side effects including nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness 3, 6, 7, 4
- Cabergoline has been shown to be more effective and better tolerated than bromocriptine in some patients 3, 6, 7