Women's health is especially fragile. The body of the fair sex and its good functioning are so closely dependent on the hormones produced that any, even the most, at first glance, minor malfunction can cause significant harm. Therefore, it is important to always carefully monitor your health and select only the best drugs to restore it. One of the most popular solutions to a common female problem (hyperprolactinemia) is the drug Dostinex. What is this drug? What do doctors and patients think about him? How will its effect on the state of your body? Everything that you need to know before starting treatment with the drug "Dostinex": instructions for use, analogs, price, reviews, will be discussed in more detail in this article. Be careful.
Release form
Instructions for use "Dostinex" describes as a drug that is available in dark glass bottles. Each vial may contain 2 or 8 tablets. In the package with the drug you will find one bottle and instructions for use of the drug in question.
Structure
Instructions for use of Dostinex, price, reviews about this drug - all suggest the high quality of the product in question. Most of the matter in the composition. The main active ingredient is cabergoline. Each tablet contains exactly 0.5 mg. Also included are some auxiliary components, including leucine and anhydrous lactose.
Analogs
Reviews, instructions for the use of Dostinex draw attention to the fact that for some reason, for certain reasons, this particular drug may not be suitable for some patients. In this case, it is recommended to choose the appropriate analogue of the medication. Such a substitute drug for the drug in question is Alactin, which is available in tablet form (2 per pack). This analogue of "Dostinex" is the instruction for use and experts call it the most suitable, since "Alactin" has an identical main active ingredient, which means that the effectiveness of treatment will not decrease. However, it is important to remember that only a qualified doctor who is well acquainted with your state of health can prescribe a drug instead of the initially selected medicine. Only in this case will the correct treatment regimen be compiled for you.
Indications for use
So, in what cases does the Dostinex drug recommend use? To stop lactation (relevant both to prevent the development of the physiological process of lactation immediately after childbirth, and in order to suppress lactation, which has already been established). In what cases does such a need arise? We can talk about the following situations:
- after an abortion or miscarriage, when there is no need for lactation;
- after the birth of the baby, the mother, on her own initiative or as prescribed by the doctor (if the process of breastfeeding is not possible due to the presence of certain contraindications for the mother or her newborn baby) decides to stop breastfeeding;
- the need to treat a variety of disorders that are associated with hyperprolactinemia (among them there are anovulation, amenorrhea, galactorrhea, oligomenorrhea);
- treatment of prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas (also known as micro- and macro-prolactinomas), the syndrome of the "empty" Turkish saddle, accompanied by hyperprolactinemia, as well as idiopathic hyperprolactinemia.
So, appoint "Dostinex" to stop lactation. Instructions for use focuses the attention of patients on the fact that it is forbidden to decide on their own to take the drug in question. Experts insist that patients taking drugs of this kind be under the supervision of a physician who can provide the necessary assistance in case of undesirable side effects.
Contraindications
Not every patient who has indications for the use of the drug in question can use it in his treatment. As a rule, this is due to the presence of certain contraindications. The drug "Dostinex" (0.5 mg) does not recommend use in the following cases:
- In the presence of personal hypersensitivity to the main active substance of the medication in question or its other components, as well as to any ergot alkaloids.
- Valvulopathy of heart valves (only if it is anatomically proven, for example, it was confirmed by echocardiography).
- Pericardial, pulmonary, or retroperitoneal fibrotic changes occurring in the patient’s history.
If you know that you have one or more of the contraindications described above, be sure to tell your doctor about them before starting treatment. In such cases, even with increased prolactin, the instructions for use of Dostinex are prohibited. A correct replacement can be assigned to you by a specialist.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It is important to remember that pregnancy should be avoided if you have been treated with the drug in question. This must be done at least within the next month after the end of treatment. This is due to the fact that a rather long half-life is characteristic of this drug. Also, there is not enough data on how exactly the drug in question affects the fetus. However, the use of the drug does not in any way increase the risk of miscarriage, the occurrence of any abnormalities of pregnancy, premature birth or congenital malformations of the child.
There is no evidence that cabergoline (the main active ingredient of the drug in question) is excreted along with mother's milk. However, it was also not possible to refute this. Therefore, against the background of taking this medication, you should not feed the baby with breast milk. Given the nature of the action of the described drug, it should not be prescribed to those mothers who, although they have problems with hyperprolactinemia, still want to breastfeed their children.
Mode of application
As the instructions for use emphasize, the composition of Dostinex tablets is not absolutely safe. So, you can take the drug in question only by carefully following the instructions of the attending physician. The tablets are taken orally. It is important to drink them with food.
Abstract, the instructions for use of Dostinex recommends using it to prevent lactation according to the following scheme: at the very first day after delivery, 2 tablets of 0.5 mg (or 1 mg of active substance) are taken.
Otherwise, the drug in question should be used if lactation has already been established. How does Dostinex recommend using the instructions for termination of milk? In such cases, you need to take half a tablet (0.25 mg of the drug) every 12 hours for 2 days.
What do the reviews of doctors say, the instructions for the use of Dostinex about its use for the correction of disorders that are associated with hyperprolactinemia? In such cases, the drug in question must be taken at extremely low doses. We are talking about taking 1 tablet (0.5 mg of the drug) per week at a time or two (half a tablet on two different days of the week with a short break between doses). Each month, the weekly dose should be increased by 0.5 mg. This is recommended to be done until the expected therapeutic effect is finally achieved. Patients usually stop at a dosage of 1 mg per week. However, the weekly dosage range from 0.25 mg to 2 mg of the drug is considered normal. In some cases, specialists decide to increase the dose to 4.5 mg of the drug per week, if necessary as part of the treatment regimen and the patient tolerates the drug well. It is important to remember that if you experience discomfort after taking the medication in question, you may need to break the weekly dose into several doses.
In some cases, the working dose should be significantly reduced. For example, this is true for patients suffering from severe renal failure.
Instructions for use, the description of Dostinex do not answer the question of how safe the drug in question is for patients under 16 years of age. Its effectiveness in such cases is also practically not proven and is controversial. Therefore, reviews, instructions for the use of "Dostinex" for the treatment of children are categorically not recommended.
Similarly, no studies have been conducted that would prove the safety of the use of the drug in question for elderly patients. Therefore, specialists prefer to select other drugs for the correction of conditions associated with hyperprolactinemia in the elderly.
Side effects
It is important to adhere to all the instructions contained in the instructions for use of "Dostinex" to stop lactation. However, unfortunately, even this cannot guarantee that no side effects will occur. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor your well-being and reactions that occur during treatment. Among the most common side effects are the following: fainting, convulsive twitching of the leg muscles, hypotension, depression, peripheral vasospasm, sleep disturbances, orthostatic hypotension, increased libido, paresthesia, pathological gambling addiction, headache, increased sexual activity, dizziness, compulsive overeating , decrease in hemoglobin level, irresistible attraction to purchases or expenses, vertigo, hot flashes, pain in the mammary glands, sudden onset of sleep, asthenia, syncope, pain in the abdomen, vomiting, weakness, dyspepsia, drowsiness, gastritis, transient hemianopsia, constipation, palpitations, nausea, valvulopathy, epigastric pain, pericarditis, epistaxis, pericardial effusion, pulmonary fibrosis, abnormal vision, pleural effusion, asymptomatic asthenia, dyspnea, hypersensitivity reactions, respiratory failure, delirium, respiratory failure, mental disorder, alopecia, edema, an increase in blood creatine phosphokinase levels, rash, laboratory disorders GOVERNMENTAL indicators of liver function.
If you notice a manifestation of some of the side effects listed above, contact your doctor immediately. He will be able to provide you with the necessary assistance and offer alternative treatment options.
Overdose
Specialists, having carefully studied the composition described in the instructions for use of Dostinex and analogues, can clearly explain what unpleasant or even dangerous consequences can result in a banal non-compliance with the prescribed treatment regimen, namely an excess of the prescribed dose of the drug. How to determine that you are experiencing the consequences of an overdose of the drug in question? It is important to pay attention to the presence of a number of relevant symptoms. Among them, the following are especially distinguished:
- dyspeptic disorders;
- nausea;
- hallucinations;
- orthostatic hypotension;
- psychosis;
- vomiting
- confusion.
If you notice one or more of the symptoms described above that have appeared with the use of the Dostinex medication and drug analogues, the instruction recommends not wasting time and immediately seek help from a specialist. In a medical facility, the patient will be able to provide qualified assistance by washing the stomach to remove the non-absorbable drug. Also, doctors will be able to maintain blood pressure at the proper level. As symptomatic treatment, dopamine receptor antagonists may be prescribed.
Features of use
Before making an appointment, it is important to remember that the patient should prescribe the minimum effective dose. To do this in the right way, a thorough examination is necessary. Only after it can you choose the most effective dosage regimen. During the entire course of treatment, the patient should undergo a monthly examination, which will control the level of prolactin in the blood serum. As a rule, it takes from 2 to 4 weeks to achieve a therapeutic effect.
Patients suffering from severe liver failure should receive lower doses of the drug in question. You should also be careful for those who are diagnosed with severe cardiovascular system disorders, psychoses, gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic ulcer, Raynaud's syndrome. In case of prolonged use, the drug may have a hypotensive effect.
During treatment, patients with Parkinson's disease may develop drowsiness, as well as episodes of sudden onset of sleep. If this happens, the doctor may decide to stop treatment with the drug in question or significantly reduce its dose.
Among other things, patients taking this drug develop certain impulse control impulses, which are clearly manifested in their behavior. We are talking about increased sexual activity, compulsive overeating, increased libido, pathological dependence on gambling, as well as an irresistible attraction to shopping or spending. It is important to control your behavior during the course of treatment. If you notice these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. He will reduce the dose or completely cancel the drug.
This drug causes a certain withdrawal syndrome. So, for example, a relapse of hyperprolactinemia is possible. However, its persistent effect persists for at least 6 months.
If the drug is used in order to prevent or suppress already developed physiological lactation, in no case should you exceed a single working dose of cabergoline, which, as a rule, is 0.25 mg. We are talking about patients who are nursing mothers with already established lactation. The purpose of taking the drug in such cases is to prevent the development of orthostatic hypotension.
It is important to carefully examine the pituitary gland before starting therapy with the drug in question. This medication, among other things, can restore ovulation and fertility of a woman. In this case, pregnancy can occur even before menstruation is restored. And therefore, experts strongly recommend a pregnancy test every 4 weeks. When the natural process of menstruation is restored, such tests will need to be carried out whenever there is a delay of menstruation for at least 3 days. If a woman does not plan a pregnancy, then during treatment she should use non-hormonal methods of contraception. And if pregnancy has occurred, the patient should regularly visit his attending physician, who would monitor the state of the pituitary gland in order to respond in time to possible worsening.
Do not use the drug in question for the treatment of children under 16 years of age.
It is not known how safe this drug is for elderly patients.
As practice shows, in the case of the drug in question, all side effects are dose-dependent. So, it is possible to control their manifestation by changing the working dosage of the drug. Only a specialist can do this. However, it is important to inform him in time about the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms so that he can take the necessary measures.
Precautionary measures
What else does the instructions for use of the drug pay attention to? Dostinex is able to influence how well you can drive your car, as well as other mechanisms. Experts give some advice on this. So, for example, it is important to be especially careful when participating in any activity that may require you to have an increased concentration of attention in the first days of taking Dostinex tablets. The instructions for the use of the drug in question also emphasize the fact that, in principle, certain groups of patients are strictly forbidden to work with dangerous mechanisms, drive a car and engage in any other activity that could theoretically cause serious damage or even death to the patient himself or the people around him.We are talking about those who, while taking this medication, experience obsessive drowsiness and dispersal. It will be possible to return to normal professional activity only when the above symptoms disappear.
Positive patient reviews
The drug in question is incredibly popular. Both specialists and patients really appreciate him.What is its undeniable advantage? Let us consider in more detail the main positive aspects of taking the drug described in the article. Among them, the following are especially distinguished:
- effective;
- acts fast;
- need to be taken only a few times a month;
- can be taken at any time of the day;
- cannot be purchased without a doctor’s prescription;
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Negative patient reviews
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- Instructions for use tell about a large number of side effects and contraindications. And, as practice shows, side effects are not uncommon.
- Price. The cost of the drug is quite high.
- Analogs Some insist on the use of cheaper, albeit less safe analogues.
- Addiction may develop.
- Do not use simultaneously with alcohol.
- Sometimes you have to repeat the course of treatment.
If you are concerned about any of the above, be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider. But if you are optimistic and received an appointment from a specialist, do not delay and begin treatment. This will help to get the expected result sooner.
Storage mechanism
How does it recommend to store the drug "Dostinex" instructions for use? It is important to keep it in a place where the air temperature does not exceed 25 degrees, it must be reliably protected from moisture and direct sunlight. This is required so that this medication retains its beneficial properties as long as possible and does not lose them before the expiration date declared by the manufacturer. You must make sure that children under no circumstances can get uncontrolled access to the drug in question. As the instruction notes, Dostinex and drug analogues taken by the child at any dose can be dangerous for the normal functioning of his body. Therefore, please be careful.
The shelf life of the medication in question is 2 years. After it, the use of the drug is strictly prohibited. Indeed, in this case, the medicine can not only not have the expected positive effect, but also cause significant harm to the health of the patient. Therefore, always check the expiration date of the medication. As a rule, it is indicated on the package.
Order of sale of medicine
According to the instructions for use, Dostinex can only be sold if the buyer provides the appropriate prescription from a qualified medical practitioner. It is not possible to buy the medication in question on your own, without prior consultation with a specialist. Which, however, protects patients from uncontrolled treatment and its negative consequences.
Price
Many people like the positive properties that are attributed to the instructions for the use of Dostinex. The price of the drug, however, can hardly be called democratic. So, a package containing 2 tablets will cost the buyer 698 rubles. A package with 8 tablets costs an average of 1777 rubles. Such is the price of Dostinex in Russian pharmacies. The instructions for use recommend that you purchase the drug exclusively in trusted pharmaceutical institutions, of which you have no doubt about the integrity of the work. Only in this case can you be sure that you are getting a quality medicine.
Output
You are now armed with the required information. In this article, all the necessary information about the drug "Dostinex" was considered: instructions for use, price, reviews of doctors and patients, analogues, features of use. This will allow you to make an informed decision as to whether it is worth the therapy using the drug in question.
It is important to carefully adhere to the treatment regimen that your attending physician has compiled for you. Try not to skip pills. Since they occur relatively rarely (once or twice a week), it would be correct to set a reminder on your mobile device that would help you take the medicine on time. Make a conscious effort to ensure that your treatment is successful. Avoid alcohol, it is incompatible with this drug. Carefully monitor your well-being. If any side effects occur, consult your doctor immediately. This will allow you to stop unpleasant effects in time and restore the state of your body.
Take care of yourself and your family and friends. And be always healthy!