The suppression of puerperal lactation with bromocryptine.

The therapeutic value of 2-Br-alpha-ergocryptine for the suppression of puerperal lactation was studied in 30 normal women; 16 received the drug, 14 were controls. In six women plasma levels of FSH, oestradiol and alpha-lactalbulmin were measured in labour and in the early puerperium. Brom-ergocryptine was found effectively to suppress milk production and alleviate breast pain and congestion, with no side effects and minimum rebound lactation. The inverse relationship between prolactin and FSH levels reported elsewhere in non-pregnant women did not appear to occur in the early postpartum period. Although there was a significant rise in alpha-lactalbumin levels in labour and the puerperium over non-pregnant levels, there was no difference between lactating and non-lactating women.