Objective: The objective of the work was to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of a single administration of 1 mg cabergoline and 10-day administration of 1.5 mg terguride divided into three doses after 8-hour intervals, in the indication of arrest of lactation after an abortion during the second trimester.
Type of study: Prospective clinical study. NAME AND PLACE OF DEPARTMENT: Gynaecological and Obstetric Clinic. First Medical Faculty Charles University and General Faculty Hospital Prague, Apolinárská 18, Prague 2.
Method: During the period between January and October 2000 to 41 patients after abortion induced during the 2nd trimester terguride, 0.5 mg after 8-hour intervals, was administered for a 10-day period. During the subsequent period from November 2000 to September 2001 to 43 patients cabergoline was administered in a single dose within 12 hours after the abortion. During hospitalization the patients were asked daily for their subjective evaluation of the effect of treatment (vertigo, palpitations, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sleepiness, secretion from the breast, tension in the breasts) and the doctor evaluated the success of treatment objectively. Within 21 days after the abortion the patients were addressed over the phone on subjective and objective effects of treatment. For statistical evaluation Fisher's exact bilateral test was used.
Results: The "cabergoline" group displayed, as compared with the "terguride" group, significantly fewer undesirable effects (p < 0.01). No significant difference was found between groups (p = 0.1) as regards the necessity to repeat administration of the drug. None of the undesirable effects were so serious to call for interruption of treatment.
Conclusion: Arrest of lactation during the second trimester of gestation is an integral part of care of the patient. Symptoms associated with lactation are adversely accepted by the patient. The incidence of undesirable effects after a single dose of cabergoline is significantly lower as compared with 10-day administration of terguride. A single dose of cabergoline during hospitalization improves the patients' compliance and thus the effect of treatment. Cabergoline can be used as the drug of first choice for arrest of lactation after abortion during the second trimester of pregnancy.