Comparison of the clinical activity of mesulergine and pergolide in the treatment of hyperprolactinaemia

Abstract

The clinical activity of the new ergoline, mesulergine, was compared to pergolide in the treatment of hyperprolactinaemia. Mesulergine was given to 22 women and five men with hyperprolactinaemia. Serum prolactin was substantially lowered in 10 women; two subsequently conceived and completed normal pregnancies. Twelve women stopped treatment due to side-effects, usually nausea and vomiting, or inadequate responses. The side-effects were generally similar to those on bromocriptine; in one patient they were better and in four worse than on bromocriptine. The male patients were more tolerant of mesulergine, and substantial falls in serum prolactin were seen with evidence of tumour shrinkage. Twenty-seven women with hyperprolactinaemia received pergolide; serum prolactin was lowered or normalized in 16. Side-effects necessitating cessation of treatment were similar to those seen with bromocriptine. Nevertheless, four women tolerated pergolide better than bromocriptine and two women adequately treated with mesulergine had previously been intolerant of pergolide. We conclude that both pergolide and mesulergine may be useful and effective drugs in the treatment of hyperprolactinaemia as alternatives to bromocriptine.