Inhibition of puerperal lactation by means of a single injection of bromocriptine retard.

The efficacy, tolerance and acceptability of a single i.m. injection of 50 mg bromocriptine retard (in polylactic acid microspheres), given within 12 h after delivery for suppression of lactation, were investigated in 47 mothers not willing to breast-feed. Slight to moderate breast discomfort was noticed during the first postpartum days in 23% of the patients but lactation was indeed prevented in all cases and no rebound lactation occurred in any case. Only six patients exhibited at least two symptoms of mammary engorgement (congestion and pain or milk let-down): in this group, blood mean PRL levels were significantly less suppressed on postpartum days 2, 6, 21 and 28 (p less than 0.05 to p less than 0.001) than in the group of mothers completely free of any mammary symptoms. Slight side-effects (mostly dizziness), as mentioned at systematic request, were recorded in 34% of the patients; only 3 patients required treatment for their side-effects. Recovery of ovarian function was evident quite early (by day 28 in 72% of the patients), thus requiring early onset of contraception.