Pregnancy dopamine agonists

Most women with hyperprolactinemia require dopamine agonist therapy to achieve regular ovulatory cycles and pregnancy. Since restoration of the ovulatory cycle may occur within 1 week of initiating therapy, caution patients regarding their potential to become pregnant.51... 

Rats are sensitive to sexual hormones, unsuitable for the testing of dopamine agonists due to dependence on prolactin for establishment and maintenance of early pregnancy (1). 

As already stated, the principal advantage of the mouse is that it provides an alternative rodent species recognized by regulatory authorities. This has proved helpful for compounds such as dopamine agonists that can reduce prolactin release, the hormone essential for the establishment and maintenance of early pregnancy in the rat. 

If a woman who is receiving a dopamine agonist is late in having her menses, a pregnancy test is necessary if she is amenorrheic, pregnancy tests should be performed regularly because ovulation may occur before menstruation resumes. 

Ergometrine is used to contract the uterus. It is an a-adrenoceptor and dopamine receptor agonist and acts almost immediately when injected i.v. The uterus is stimulated at all times, but is much more sensitive in late pregnancy (see also ergotamine, p.327). 

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