Bromocriptine clinical studies

Schwinn G, Dirks H, McIntosh C, Kobberling J. Metabolic and clinical studies on patients with acromegaly treated with bromocriptine over 22 months. Fur J Clin Invest 1977 7(2) 101-7. 

Consistent with earlier studies, Muscat et al. ( 58) reported on chronic exposure to mild unpredictable stress in rats as a model to study the antidepressant-reversible decreases in the consumption of palatable sweets. Using this model, they found that certain dopamine agonists (i.e., quinpirole, bromocriptine) administered intermittently had the same positive effects as TCAs. They further postulated that the infrequent, intermittent administration of dopamine agonists (e.g., psychostimulants) may avoid problems with tolerance and abuse while providing a clinically relevant antidepressant strategy. A report by Kapur and Mann ( 59) comprehensively reviews the role of dopamine in depressive disorders. They discuss several lines of evidence, including the following ... 

L-dopa, a precursor of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, was introduced into HE therapy by J.D. Parkes et al. in 1970. The results were good. As yet, there is still no accepted opinion on the use of this substance. Piracetam, as a nootropic substance, led to a clear improvement in typical electrical brain activities in animals displaying hepatic damage and symptoms of encephalopathy. Similarly, a double-blind randomized cross-over study with the nootropic agent centropheno-xine partly showed positive effects in psychometric testing. Bromocriptine, an agonist of the dopamine receptor, was also used in 1980 for chronic hepatic encephalopathy. (146,163) Application of L-carnitine (6 g/day orally, divided into two doses, for 4 weeks) leads to a marked reduction of hyperammonaemia and a clear improvement in clinical symptoms of HE in cirrhotic patients. (119) (s. p.49)... 

A study in 20 patients with Parkinson s disease taking levodopa/carbidopa found that overall there was no difference in plasma levodopa levels after bromocriptine was also taken, although some patients had either significant elevations or significant reductions in levels. However, the only adverse clinical change found was an increase in dyskinesias in the patients with elevated levodopa levels. An earlier study found no pharmacokinetic interaction between levodopa/carbidopa and bromocriptine, but it should be noted that this was a single-dose study and may not reflect long-term concurrent use. ... 

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