Cycloset
Cycloset, the brand name for bromocriptine, is used along with a nutritious diet and exercise plan to improve blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. But it isn't a first-choice treatment option. Cycloset (bromocriptine) is a type of medication called a dopamine agonist. It comes as tablets that are taken by mouth once per day (within 2 hours of waking up). Side effects include nausea, headache, and sleepiness.
What is Cycloset (bromocriptine)?
What is Cycloset (bromocriptine) used for?
- Improving blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes, as an add-on to a nutritious diet and exercise routine
How Cycloset (bromocriptine) works
Cycloset (bromocriptine) is a type of ergot derivative. It's also known as a dopamine agonist.
The medication works by turning on dopamine receptors in the brain and nervous system. It helps improve your body's response to insulin. This helps lower blood sugar levels after the meals you eat during the day.
Drug facts
Side effects of Cycloset (bromocriptine)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea (33%)
- Stuffy nose (14%)
- Headache (13%)
- Dizziness (13%)
- Weakness or low energy (13%)
- Constipation (11%)
- Sinus infection (10%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Vomiting
- Low appetite
- Lazy eye
- Infection
- Low blood sugar levels
Cycloset (bromocriptine) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Low blood pressure: tiredness, severe dizziness, fainting
- Severely low blood sugar: feeling dizzy or faint, shakiness, feeling confused, feeling irritable or anxious, sweating, extreme hunger, can't think clearly
The following Cycloset (bromocriptine) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Blurred vision
chest pain or discomfort
difficulty in speaking
dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
double vision
feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
feeling that others can hear your thoughts
headache
inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
inability to speak
nervousness
pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
pounding in the ears
severe mood or mental changes
slow or fast heartbeat
slow speech
sweating
trouble breathing
unusual behavior
vomiting
Less common—reported more often in patients with Parkinson's disease
Confusion
uncontrolled movements of the body, such as the face, tongue, arms, hands, head, and upper body
Rare—reported more often in patients taking large doses
Increased frequency of urination
loss of appetite, continuing
lower back pain
runny nose, continuing
stomach pain, continuing or severe
weakness
Rare
Black, tarry stools
bloody vomit
fainting
nervousness
seizures
sudden weakness
temporary blindness
unusual headache
vomiting, continuing or severe
Incidence not known
Agitation
blue or pale skin
chest pain, possibly moving to the left arm, neck, or shoulder
chills
difficulty in speaking
double vision
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
headache
high fever
high or low blood pressure
inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
inability to speak
increased frequency of urination
loss of bladder control
lower back pain
severe muscle stiffness
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusually pale skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
drowsiness or tiredness
leg cramps at night
loss of appetite
mental depression
stomach pain
tingling or pain in the fingers and toes when exposed to cold temperatures
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Cycloset (bromocriptine)
Pros
- Taken once a day
- Helps your body use insulin better
- Can take with other diabetes medications
Cons
- Typically need to take more than 1 tablet for each dose
- Not a first-choice treatment for Type 2 diabetes
- Risk of unpleasant side effects, like impulsive behavior and hallucinations (seeing things that aren't real)
Pharmacist tips for Cycloset (bromocriptine)
- Take Cycloset (bromocriptine) within 2 hours after you wake up in the morning. Taking the medication at this specific time will help it work as best as it can to control your blood sugar.
- If you miss the recommended time to take Cycloset (bromocriptine) or if you forget to take it, skip the missed dose. Then, take your usual dose the next morning at your usual time. Don't double-up on the dose to make up for the missed dose.
- Take Cycloset (bromocriptine) with food. Since nausea is a common side effect, food can help lower the risk for stomach-related side effects.
- Cycloset (bromocriptine) can make you very sleepy. Don't drive or and do other things that need your concentration if you feel sleepy. Make sure you know how this medication affects you. Let your prescriber know if you already have a problem with staying awake during the day or if you take other medications that make you sleepy.
- Be sure to hold onto something stable when you stand up. Cycloset (bromocriptine) can make your blood pressure drop and make you feel dizzy or lose your balance when you get up from a sitting or lying position. Get medical help right away if you fall and hit your head.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while you're taking Cycloset (bromocriptine). Alcohol can raise your risk for side effects like low blood pressure, sleepiness, and dizziness. Talk to your prescriber about ways to lessen how much you drink if you need guidance.
- Tell your health care team about all the medications that you're taking before and during treatment with Cycloset (bromocriptine). They can review your medication list to make sure your medications are safe to take together.
- Ask your prescriber how often you should check your blood sugar levels while you're taking Cycloset (bromocriptine). Keep track of your readings and share them with your care team so they can adjust your dose based on the patterns of your blood sugar levels.
- It's possible to have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) while you're taking Cycloset (bromocriptine). This can especially happen if you're also taking other diabetes medications, such as sulfonylureas like glipizide. Learn to recognize symptoms of hypoglycemia like sweating, shakiness, anxiety, and hunger and know how to treat it.
- Work with your care team to come up with a meal plan and exercise routine that works best for you. This will help Cycloset (bromocriptine) work as best as possible for you.
Common questions about Cycloset (bromocriptine)
There isn't a set amount of time for how long you should take Cycloset (bromocriptine). Your prescriber will probably tell you to continue taking the medication as long as it's helping to manage your blood sugar and as long as you're not having any unbearable side effects. Depending on how well controlled your hemoglobin A1C (average blood sugar levels over a few months) is, you might be able to stop taking Cycloset (bromocriptine). Talk to your prescriber if you're not sure how long you need to take this medication.
No, Cycloset (bromocriptine) isn't available as a generic yet. Currently, it's only available as a brand-name medication.
Hair loss wasn't a commonly reported side effect of Cycloset (bromocriptine) during clinical studies. Contact your healthcare team if you notice hair loss, hair shedding, or hair thinning while you're taking Cycloset (bromocriptine). Your care team can help figure out possible causes of the hair loss you're experiencing.
Weight gain wasn't a side effect that people who took Cycloset (bromocriptine) reported during clinical studies. But some people treated with Cycloset (bromocriptine) have had intense urges and behaviors that are hard to control. An example of this type of urge can include the urge to eat at lot, which can potentially lead to weight gain. Talk to your prescriber if you notice that you've gained a concerning amount of weight since you've started taking Cycloset (bromocriptine).
You shouldn't take Cycloset (bromocriptine) if you faint when you have a migraine. This is because the medication can put you at risk of having notably low blood pressure that can lead to fainting. In addition, people who've just given birth or who are breastfeeding shouldn't take Cycloset (bromocriptine). You might have less milk production and be at serious risk for heart attack, stroke, and seizure if you take it during this time period. And you shouldn't take Cycloset (bromocriptine) if you're allergic to ergot-related medications; they belong to a similar drug class as Cycloset (bromocriptine). This medication also isn't recommended for people with severe mental health problems because it can worsen their mental health. Speak with your prescriber if you're not sure whether you can take Cycloset (bromocriptine).
If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your diabetes specialist or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN). They can discuss with you about the risks and benefits of taking Cycloset (bromocriptine) while pregnant. In general, studies haven't shown that bromocriptine has a clear risk to an unborn baby when it's taken during pregnancy. Keep in mind that there are risks to both the mother and baby with poorly controlled diabetes while pregnant. So your diabetes specialist can help suggest the best treatment options for you during pregnancy.
It isn't recommended to take Cycloset (bromocriptine) while you're breastfeeding because the medication lowers your milk supply. In addition, some people who took Cycloset (bromocriptine) after they've given birth had serious and life-threatening health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and psychosis. Contact your prescriber right away to discuss your options if you're planning to breastfeed.
Both Cycloset and Parlodel are brand names that contain the same active ingredient, bromocriptine. But they're used for completely different medical conditions. Cycloset is an add-on treatment to a balanced diet and exercise plan for improving blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, Parlodel is used to treat medical conditions like Parkinson's disease, acromegaly, and hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin levels). Since they're used for different medical conditions, the dosage of bromocriptine for each brand name is completely different. This means that you can't substitute the brand names for each other. Speak with your prescriber to learn more about the differences between Cycloset and Parlodel.
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Risks and warnings for Cycloset (bromocriptine)
Cycloset (bromocriptine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Low blood pressure, leading to risk of falls
- Risk factors: Low blood pressure | Taking blood pressure medications | Higher Cycloset (bromocriptine) dose
Cycloset (bromocriptine) can cause a drop in blood pressure when you stand from a sitting or lying position. This can lead to dizziness, a loss of balance, fainting, or falls. It can particularly happen when you start this and when your dose gets raised. Your prescriber will check for your risk of this side effect periodically during treatment.
Make sure to get up slowly and hold onto something after you sit or lie down. Contact your prescriber if you faint or have a fall while you're taking Cycloset (bromocriptine). Get checked out right away especially if you fall and hit your head to make sure you're okay.
Worsening mental health
- Risk factors: History of mental health problems (e.g., psychosis)
It isn't recommended for people with severe mental health problems like psychosis to take Cycloset (bromocriptine). Medications like Cycloset (bromocriptine) can worsen symptoms of mental health conditions. They can also make medications used for treating mental health conditions work less well.
Contact your prescriber or psychiatrist right away if you or your loved ones notice that you have any hallucinations or other unusual changes in behavior or thoughts while you're taking Cycloset (bromocriptine).
Intense urges
Some people who take medications like Cycloset (bromocriptine) can have compulsive behavior, more specifically intense urges and behaviors that are hard to control. These behaviors can include an urge to gamble, sexual urges, an urge to shop, or binge eating.
Let your prescriber know if you or your loved ones notice that you have new urges or habits as you take Cycloset (bromocriptine). Your prescriber might need to adjust or stop your medication to help with these urges.
Extreme sleepiness
- Risk factors: Already feeling sleepy | History of sleep problems | Taking other sedatives or medications that make you sleepy | Drinking alcohol
Cycloset (bromocriptine) can make you sleepy, especially when you first start taking the medication. This sleepiness might go away as you continue treatment. But it can feel more intense if you're also taking other medications that can cause drowsiness, like benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, and sleep medications.
Don't drive drive a car or do activities that need your full attention until you know how Cycloset (bromocriptine) affects you. Talk to your prescriber if you feel too sleepy or fall asleep without warning after you take Cycloset (bromocriptine).
Not for use after giving birth or while breastfeeding
- Risk factors: Heart disease
You can't take Cycloset (bromocriptine) if you've just given birth or if you're breastfeeding. Cycloset (bromocriptine) can stop milk production. It can also raise the risk of serious and life-threatening problems, including high blood pressure, heart attack, seizure, stroke, and psychosis. You're at higher risk if you also have a history of heart problems. Talk with your prescriber for guidance if you're breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Cycloset (bromocriptine) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8mg | 120 tablets | $621.36 | $5.18 |
Typical dosage for Cycloset (bromocriptine)
Each tablet contains 0.8 mg of bromocriptine.
The starting dose is 1 tablet by mouth once per day, taken within 2 hours of waking up in the morning. Your prescriber will raise your dose each week by 1 tablet depending on how well Cycloset (bromocriptine) works for you. The recommended dose is 2 to 6 tablets per day.
Interactions between Cycloset (bromocriptine) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Eletriptan
- Frovatriptan
- Letermovir
- Naratriptan
- Rizatriptan
- Sulpiride
- Sumatriptan
- Zolmitriptan
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Almotriptan
- Amoxapine
- Boceprevir
- Ceritinib
- Clarithromycin
- Clomipramine
- Cobicistat
- Conivaptan
- Dihydroergotamine
- Fosnetupitant
- Haloperidol
- Idelalisib
- Indinavir
- Isometheptene
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Lopinavir
- Metoclopramide
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Netupitant
- Phenylpropanolamine
- Posaconazole
- Propatyl Nitrate
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Telaprevir
- Telithromycin
- Thioctic Acid
- Voriconazole
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Bromperidol
- Cyclosporine
- Kava
- Thioridazine
How much does Cycloset (bromocriptine) cost?
$621.36
Cycloset (bromocriptine) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Cycloset (bromocriptine) will not be safe for you to take.
- History of fainting with a migraine headache
- People who have just given birth
- People who are breastfeeding
- Allergy to ergot-related medications
What are alternatives to Cycloset (bromocriptine)?
Cycloset (bromocriptine) images
