L-Dopa is not recommended during pregnancy, since it is a potential teratogenic agent. L-Dopa effects are antagonized by antipsychotic drugs such as phenothiazines as well as by reserpine and phenytoin. As an alternative to the use of L-Dopa, Dopamine Agonists have been investigated. It was anticipated that these drugs might prove superior to L-Dopa, because they do not rely on enzymatic transformation in DA terminals. There is considerable interindividual variation in response to bromocriptine, therefore careful titration of dose is required.
Orthostatic hypotension is a common side effect.
It is a more potent Dopamine receptor agonis than bromocriptine, and has a longer half life. It is used for the same purposes as bromocriptine, and has similar toxic effects, except that it is more likely to cause cardiac arrhythmias. Little pharmacokinetic data is available 3. Clinical improvement is usually not sustained beyond 3-6 months when the drug is given alone. More commonly the drug is combined with l-dopa or anticholinergic drugs.