Cabergoline
Caber · Dostinex
Dopamine D2 agonist used to manage prolactin elevation (e.g. on 19-nors).
Key takeaways
- Ergot-derived D2 agonist approved for hyperprolactinemia; outperforms bromocriptine in head-to-head trials.
- ~86-hour half-life — twice-weekly dosing gives stable prolactin suppression.
- Community 19-nor use is extrapolation: confirm elevated prolactin with bloodwork first.
- Valve fibrosis is documented at high cumulative (Parkinson's-range) doses; low-dose risk unquantified.
Reported dosing protocols
Protocols reported in research literature and clinic/community use — informational context, not a dosing recommendation.
| Use case | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperprolactinemia (label) | 0.25 mg start, titrate to 1 mg max | Oral | Twice weekly | Chronic, reassessed periodically |
| Prolactin control on 19-nors (community) | 0.25–0.5 mg | Oral | 1–2× weekly | Duration of cycle |
Pharmacokinetic summary
- Model tier
- Advanced (t½ + Cmax + Tmax + F)
- Half-life
- 3.6 days
- Cmax
- 4.03 ng/mL
- Tmax
- 0.1 days
- Bioavailability
- 47%
- Typical dose
- 0.125–1 mg
Frequently asked questions
Do all 19-nor users need cabergoline?
No. Prolactin response to nandrolone or trenbolone varies widely, and many users never develop elevated prolactin. Current community practice treats confirmed elevations from bloodwork rather than dosing presumptively, since cabergoline carries its own risks.
What are cabergoline's real side effects?
Nausea, dizziness, and low blood pressure are common early. Impulse-control disorders (gambling, hypersexuality) are documented and under-recognized. Cardiac valve fibrosis appears at Parkinson's-disease doses; at intermittent low doses the risk looks small but hasn't been quantified.
How fast does cabergoline lower prolactin?
Prolactin falls within hours of the first dose and typically normalizes within days to a couple of weeks at label doses. The ~86-hour half-life keeps levels and effect stable on a twice-weekly schedule.
References
- PubMed cabergoline PK
- Clinical pharmacokinetics of cabergoline (Clin Pharmacokinet 2003) — Review of human PK data; source of the dataset half-life.
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