Description
Cripton belongs to a group of medicines called dopamine agonists and prolactin inhibitors.
It works by increasing the release of dopamine in the brain, which treats diseases where you need more of this substance.
It also works by decreasing the release of prolactin and growth hormone in the body, which treats diseases where you need less of these substances.
Cripton may be used for: • Stopping breast milk production for medical reasons only, and when you and your doctor have decided that it is necessary.
It should not routinely be used to stop breast milk production.
It should also not be used to relieve symptoms of painful breast engorgement after giving birth if these can be adequately treated with non-medical means (such as firm breast support, ice application) and/or a painkiller.
• Treating fertility and period problems usually caused by not having the right amount of prolactin.
This includes polycystic ovary syndrome (reduces prolactin levels).
• Treating non-cancerous tumours in the brain called prolactinomas (reduces prolactin levels).
• Treating diseases where too much growth hormone is made, which causes people to be very tall or to have large hands and feet.
This is called acromegaly (reduces growth hormone levels).
• Treating Parkinson’s Disease (increases dopamine levels).
HOW TO USE
Remember: Always take this medicine with a meal.
Adults and Children between 7 and 17 years old: For most diseases, your doctor will start you or your child on a low dose of Cripton, and then gradually increase the dose as necessary.
This will help the body adjust to the new medicine and stop you or your child from getting so many side effects.
You should always follow the advice of your doctor about increasing the dose of the medicine.
As the dose changes, the tablets may need to be taken together to get to the right dose.
You may also need to break the tablets in half along the line down the middle.
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how to do this.
The maximum dose for children aged 7-12 years is 5 to 10 mg, depending on the condition they are being treated for.
The maximum dose for children aged 13-17 years is 20 mg.
If you are a woman, your doctor will advise you when in your menstrual cycle you should start to take this medicine.
PRECAUTIONS
Do not take if: • You are allergic to bromocriptine mesilate or other ergot alkaloids such as ergotamine • You are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Cripton.
• You have high blood pressure.
• You have ever had blood pressure problems during pregnancy or after giving birth, such as eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, high blood pressure after giving birth.
• You have, or have ever had, heart disease, or other severe blood vessel disease.
