Donepezil Hydrochloride and Parlodel

• Generic Name: donepezil
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Aricept, Aricept ODT

Palliative treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (Alzheimer’s disease, presenile or senile dementia).

Comparative studies have not been performed to date, but donepezil does not share the hepatotoxic potential of tacrine and may be preferable to tacrine as a first-line treatment because it can be administered once daily and does not require regular monitoring of liver function.

• Generic Name: bromocriptine
• Dosage Forms: tablets, capsules
• Other Brand Names: Parlodel, Cycloset

This medication guide provides information about the Parlodel brand of bromocriptine. Cycloset is another brand of bromocriptine that is not covered in this medication guide.

The Parlodel brand of bromocriptine is used to treat certain conditions caused by a hormone imbalance in which there is too much prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia). Symptoms include lack of sexual development in adolescents. Women may have missed menstrual periods, loss of interest in sex, hot flashes, infertility, or unexpected breast milk production and leakage from the nipples. Men may have enlarged breasts, decreased libido, decreased facial or body hair, and loss of muscle. Parlodel is also used to treat these disorders when they are caused by brain tumors that can produce prolactin.

Parlodel is sometimes used together with surgery or radiation in treating acromegaly, a condition caused by a pituitary gland tumor that produces too much growth hormone. Parlodel is also used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control.

Parlodel may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.