Cabergoline and Nausea: What Users Say

• Jaz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2020

For Hyperprolactinemia "I'm a 23-year-old female. I just recently found out about the tumor 4 months ago and was prescribed cabergoline. Before I started this medication, I was good with my life, happy, and stable, but now that I have started this journey, I am depressed again, but this time it’s worse. I can’t control my emotions at all, and when I mean at all, I literally mean at all. I’ve been crying every single day heavily for a whole day. I’ve been treating the ones I love wrong because of my mood swings and how fast I switch up for no reason at all. I’ve been more tired than normal. I get hot flashes and cold sweats left and right. I feel nauseous all the time and bloated, and I honestly just don’t feel like myself anymore. I feel like I’ve lost myself so badly. The only good thing about this medication that I am thankful for is getting my periods back. Other than that, this medication and the journey I’m on with it still are really, really rough, and I’m just tired of all of it."

• Can...
• March 2, 2021

For Hyperprolactinemia "I've been on Dosintex for three months now. In the first two weeks, I noticed a boost in my mood and energy levels. It was as if a fog of depression had been lifted from me. I had mild headaches and a slight loss of appetite. Longer-term, the headaches and nausea subsided, and my mood leveled out. My PMS symptoms (mostly mood-related) have decreased substantially. My emotions and mental health are more stable now than they have been for years. My periods, which were unpredictable or absent previously, have returned to normal. Prior to taking cabergoline, I experienced constant slight lactation due to the elevated prolactin. After about a month on the medication, the lactation stopped completely, and my breasts have shrunk about half a cup size. My libido and sleeping patterns remain unchanged. I've lost about 5 pounds of body weight. I have noticed that if I consume alcohol, I become more easily disoriented and a bit dizzy."

• Mus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 18, 2022

For Hyperprolactinemia "I just started cabergoline for the third time in the last decade. Had to stop twice before due to pregnancy. My levels have always been moderately elevated, 56-118. For new users of the drug, be aware that the first month can be difficult. Nausea and terrible headaches were consistent for me. But after 4 weeks, they are gone, and after 6 weeks, you’ll feel like a new person! I looked in the mirror one day, and it was like I was looking at a new person. My face appeared much healthier, no bags under my eyes, I had color to my skin again. I lost about 12 lbs in the first 6 weeks. No more lactation, and my periods were back to normal. For me, this drug is life-changing. Push through the initial side effects to see the results. It’s a strong drug, but it’s worth it."

• Soi...
• May 13, 2016

For Hyperprolactinemia "My prolactin level was 75, and after less than 5 weeks, my prolactin went down to normal. The side effects were extreme the first 2-3 weeks (burning headaches, nausea, depression). At this point (6 weeks in), I mostly suffer the side effects when I haven't slept enough. I hadn't had my period since December 2015 and got my first real period a week ago. I'm not sure if my 4mm benign tumor has shrunk yet, but at least I know that the medicine is working. When taking this drug, I've found that it is really important to sleep well, eat healthy, and exercise frequently to eliminate side effects. I'd absolutely recommend it!"

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 10, 2015

For Hyperprolactinemia "I was on Bromocriptine for two years. The side effects were depression, weight gain, extreme nausea, and extreme constipation. I've now been transferred to Dostinex and spent the last year without the side effects, and it's been life-changing! I'm so thankful for this opportunity to feel normal again!"

• lif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2018

For Hyperprolactinemia "I was on this for 3 months. I went off it because it made me feel like I had a low-level flu and was always tired. The withdrawal I had from being on this drug has been horrible! Panic attacks, mood swings, highs and lows, nausea, sleep disturbances. It's called dopamine antagonist withdrawal syndrome. I've read since people go back on it because of how bad the symptoms of withdrawal are, and how long it stays. I've been off it for 3 months now, and I am still having side effects from coming off of it. It lowered my prolactin levels into normal ranges within a month of being on it, and it's easy to use. I was on 0.5 mg once a week. I will not go back on this medication due to how it affected my mental health."

• Her...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2019

For Hyperprolactinemia "After years of being told I should lose weight for my pain and excessive bleeding, and lactating. Then the tumor was found. I have been on cabergoline for 6 months. I was diagnosed with a macroadenoma. I was prescribed 1/2 tablet twice a week. Now I take .5 tablet once a week. I approached my endocrinologist with my symptoms of nausea, headaches, mood swings, confusion, and complaint of extremely heavy bleeding, and the solution was birth control. The medicine is shrinking my tumor, but the side effects are leaving me in a horrible situation..."

• Hav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2021

For Hyperprolactinemia "Was diagnosed with prolactinoma earlier in the year after months of missed periods. MRI showed clear, but SST gave a biochemical finding. After months of feeling blue, crying all the time, putting on weight (a lot), enormous boobs, being moody, exhausted all the time, and having short but intense headaches. After four weeks of half a pill twice a week, I can honestly say I feel just like my old self and period returned, boobs went to nearly normal size, weight shifting, and the energy level is back to nearly normal. It took a couple of weeks for the nausea to go away, but it does, and had no other side effects. I take it before bed with a snack, and it seems to stop the nausea."

• Tin...
• August 14, 2015

For Hyperprolactinemia "I have a macro non-functioning pituitary adenoma, which is causing compression of my pituitary stalk, 'stalk effect,' which causes increases in prolactin blood levels. My endo put me on this to reduce the 'stalk effect' I'm suffering from my macro adenoma. My crushing headaches have weakened, the lactating stopped, and my period is back on schedule. However, the side effects are extreme. They last about 5 days after taking my dose for the week. The nausea is unbearable, causing me to take a drug for that at $104/month, as I spent all day vomiting. I have what I describe as a feeling of being drunk and hungover all at once. I can't drive, but for two days a week. So tired, dizzy, weak, low blood pressure, flu-like. I am hoping for surgery soon, but I live so remotely logistics make it difficult, as I'm 13 hours from the specialists. I rated a 5, as the headaches were horrid, but so are the side effects."

• Esy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2015

For Hyperprolactinemia "I have been diagnosed with a microprolactinoma (4x9 mm) about a month ago. My prolactin levels were around 150 ng/ml. I started using cabergoline 0.25 mg twice a week. At the end of only one month, my prolactin levels dropped from 150 to 3 ng/ml. I have been told to use it for about 2 years to eventually shrink the tumor. The side effects were (especially in the first 2 weeks) nausea, extreme fatigue, and depression. I started on Zoloft for the depression, and it worked pretty well."

• Jea...
• September 21, 2018

For Hyperprolactinemia "I was diagnosed with a pituitary microadenoma. At first, my doctor gave me bromocriptine 2.5 mg every day for the hyperprolactinemia. I took it for only 4 days because I was so sick after 4 days, dizzy, nausea, vomiting, and the buzzing in my left ear was so loud I felt like there was air inside. I ended up at the emergency room. So the doctor changed my meds to cabergoline 2.5 mg once a week, but the side effects are so bad too. I took it for only 2 weeks, I can't stand it anymore, dizziness and the nausea are the worst."

• Anj...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 15, 2018

Cabergoline for Hyperprolactinemia "After getting nauseated and not being able to function well on the other two Dopa agonists I tried, no nausea and no noticeable dizziness on this. Immediately upon starting cabergoline, I slept like a baby. It was a very noticeable change. Then, after a few months, I became an insomniac. The other persistent things were that I developed a stuffy nose when my dose was due and for about a day after taking it (every four days). I was also more tired the day after I took it (always at night). A good side effect was being able to drink very little with full effect. My temper was better than it was prior. It may have boosted my libido slightly. Eventually, I got my dose down to about an eighth of a pill, then a couple of months ago, I lost my bottle. Withdrawal was sleeping incredibly poorly for about four to five nights. I’m not lactating, as I did every time when stopping it over the years, so maybe middle age is working for me. Cheaper in Canada, but recommend you get brand Dostinex only."

• lex...
• June 1, 2017

Cabergoline for Hyperprolactinemia "I used Dostinex 2 years ago for a few months. I had nausea and vomiting the first few days, but I continued taking it for a year and the side effects went away. My prolactin went from just over 200 down to 94. It also helped me lose weight. I had to stop taking it because it was too expensive. I started taking it again 2 weeks ago and the only side effect I have is mild headaches."

• L J...
• August 2, 2017

For Hyperprolactinemia "32 yr. old male. Prolactin levels 55.9. I've been on cabergoline for 4 weeks now. My lab results came back, and I am now within the healthy range at 9.9. I went maybe 2 weeks with bad nausea and headaches, then they subsided, and those effects are less intense and less frequent. I rated a 7 because the medicine certainly works quickly at bringing down prolactin. I do not know the results about it shrinking the adenoma or not yet, so I am still unsure if it works on that front. So far, so good. While the side effects were annoying and disrupted my daily life, it is certainly better than the alternative of surgery to remove the 'noma' from my pituitary gland."

• emi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2022

Cabergoline for Hyperprolactinemia "I used it for almost a year for the treatment of prolactinoma. After six months, I did an MRI, and the tumor is smaller, but the effects are terrible: fatigue, sick stomach, foggy mind, depression. I do not know what to say. I am very tired, I do not know how it will go like this. Next month, I have an appointment with my endo, and I will say that I can't use it anymore."

• zba...
• February 5, 2018

For Hyperprolactinemia "After 1.5 months of treatment, it has reduced my prolactin levels from 1264 μUI/mL to 285 μUI/mL. I take 0.25 mg weekly during meals, as specified in the patient information leaflet (Europe) to prevent nausea and vomiting. I take it in the evening to prevent dizziness. When I took the second dose, I started experiencing skin itching (I am prone to allergies), so now I take 1 tablet of Claritin (loratadine) one hour before taking cabergoline. I have had mild constipation. The next day after the first dose, I felt like I was rising from the dead. My depression was gone, my fatigue was gone, and in the first two weeks, my panic attacks (very strong before starting the treatment) were gone. Unfortunately, after two months of treatment, I am back to my “normal” depressed, tired, and anxious self. Now, however, I am also angry all the time. It also seems to stimulate my hirsutism, although I am on medication for lowering my testosterone levels."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2012

For Hyperprolactinemia "I took cabergoline twice a week (at night) for 5 months. The day after each dose, I felt extremely tired, nauseous, dizzy, constipated, and had a numbing headache. The symptoms got worse over time."

• BeB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2016

For Hyperprolactinemia "The day after taking the medication, I felt nausea and sinus pressure for a few hours in the morning. I took the pill with dinner. My prolactin levels were reduced."

• Chi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2020

For Hyperprolactinemia "I am totally down since around 4 pm. Took the drugs by 11 am. Nausea is dealing with me badly."