Bromocriptine (Parlodel)
Also known as: Parlodel, Bromocriptin, Pravidel
The older dopamine agonist for lowering prolactin — cheaper and more widely available than cabergoline, with a shorter half-life and noticeably worse tolerability.
Substance family
Medications for blood pressure, lipids and glucose. They appear here because these are exactly the markers most anabolic compounds push in the wrong direction.
Effects on
Which outcomes this substance acts on — descriptive, not a recommendation.
Strain profile
Where this substance is most likely to hit — a rough orientation, individually dependent on dose, duration and predisposition.
This substance works against
Dosing & protocols by goal
Rough orientation ranges as reported in harm-reduction literature — not an individual treatment plan. Doses are individual and open-ended; frequency depends on the ester or half-life.
Elevated prolactin
AncillaryDose
1.25–2.5 mg / day, starting at the lower end
Frequency
1–2× / day with food
Cycle length
Until prolactin normalises, confirmed by blood test
Start low and at night — the nausea and dizziness on the first doses are the main reason people abandon it.
Side effect & countermeasure
Typical problems and what you can do to reduce harm — at a glance. Does not replace medical monitoring.
Problem
Nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness on standing
Countermeasure
Start at half a tablet, take it with food and at bedtime. It usually settles within a week or two; cabergoline causes far less of it if available.
Problem
Prolactin does not fall
Countermeasure
Check that prolactinprolactinA pituitary hormone that, when elevated, causes low libido, erectile problems and breast tissue growth. was actually the problem — it looks estrogenic and often is not. Also check the draw was morning and not after training or sex, all of which raise it temporarily.
Overview
Bromocriptine lowers prolactin by acting on dopamine receptors in the pituitary. It does the same job as cabergoline, and it is the older, cheaper, more widely available option.
If cabergoline is available, it is the better drug: longer acting, taken twice weekly instead of daily, and considerably easier to tolerate. Bromocriptine is here because availability decides more often than preference.
Mechanism of Action
Dopamine is what holds prolactin down. Bromocriptine mimics it at the D2 receptor, and prolactin production falls.
Where this matters in this context: 19-nor compounds like nandrolone and trenbolone are progestogenic, and the symptoms that follow — nipple sensitivity, lost libido, erectile difficulty — look estrogenic and get treated with an aromatase inhibitor, which makes things worse. If prolactin is genuinely elevated, a dopamine agonist is the tool that fits the mechanism.
Bromocriptine or cabergoline
| Bromocriptine | Cabergoline | |
|---|---|---|
| Dosing | daily, often twice | twice weekly |
| Half-life | ~12–15 hours | ~65 hours |
| Tolerability | nausea, dizziness common | markedly better |
| Availability | wider, cheaper | more restricted |
The practical read: cabergoline where you can get it, bromocriptine where you cannot.
Measure before treating
This deserves repeating because it is the mistake that costs people months. Elevated prolactin and elevated estradiol produce overlapping symptoms, and only a blood test separates them. Treating the wrong one does not simply fail — an aromatase inhibitor taken for a prolactin problem drops estradiol that was never high, and adds a second set of symptoms to the first.
Draw the sample in the morning, before training, and not after sex. All of those raise prolactin transiently and produce a number that means nothing.
Side Effects & Risks
- Nausea, particularly in the first days
- Dizziness and a drop in blood pressure on standing
- Headache, fatigue, nasal congestion
- Rarely, mood changes or compulsive behaviour — a known class effect of dopamine agonists, worth knowing about even though it is uncommon at these doses
- Cardiac valve concerns exist for this class at the high, sustained doses used in Parkinson's disease, not at the doses used here
Blood Work & Monitoring
- Prolactin — before starting and to confirm it worked
- Estradiol (sensitive assay) — to establish which problem you actually have
- Blood pressure, particularly during the first week
Harm-Reduction Notes
- Test first. Symptoms cannot tell prolactin and estradiol apart
- Start at half a dose, at night, with food
- Do not stack it with an aromatase inhibitor on the assumption that one of them will work — that is how both problems end up present at once
- If the compound driving it is a 19-nor, lowering that dose addresses the cause
Legal status by region
Regulation differs considerably between jurisdictions and changes over time. This is a rough orientation, not legal advice — check the rules that apply where you are.
| Region | Regulatory status |
|---|---|
| United States | Prescription-only medicine |
| EU / UK | Prescription-only medicine |
| Canada / Australia | Prescription-only medicine |
| Parts of Asia, Latin America & Middle East | Pharmacy availability variesOften easier to obtain than cabergoline, which is why it still gets used. |
| Competitive sport | Not prohibited |