TREATMENT OF HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA WITH PERGOLIDE MESYLATE: ACUTE EFFECTS AND PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF LONG-TERM TREATMENT

Abstract The acute and long-term effects of oral pergolide mesylate, a new, potent, longacting dopamine agonist, were investigated in 12 hyperprolactinaemic patients. After a single 50 μg dose of pergolide mesylate, serum prolactin concentrations fell steadily to reach a mean minimum value at 6 h of 20% of baseline values; this degree of suppression was maintained throughout the 24 h study period. In one patient serum prolactin was measured for 2 days after a single dose and remained suppressed for 45 h. There were no acute changes in the serum concentrations of luteinising hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and growth hormone. Preliminary evaluation of longer term treatment with pergolide indicates that this drug at a once-daily dose of 50-150 μg is a safe, well tolerated, and effective new treatment for hyperprolactinaemia.