Parkinson's Disease

Important Information About Pergolide

	Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. pergolide may cause low blood pressure (leading to dizziness and other symptoms), especially when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly and use caution when performing hazardous activities until you know how this medication affects you.
	Hallucinations may occur if pergolide is taken with levodopa. Call your doctor if you experience hallucinations.

Do Not Take Pergolide If

	You may require a lower dose or special monitoring during your therapy with pergolide if you have any type of heart disease, such as irregular heartbeats or a history of a heart attack.
	Pergolide is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is unlikely to harm an unborn baby. Do not take pergolide without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
	It is not known whether pergolide passes into breast milk. Do not take pergolide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Drug overdose

Stop taking pergolide and seek emergency medical attention if you experience:

	An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
	Notify your doctor immediately if you experience irregular heartbeats, hallucinations, or dizziness (especially when rising from a sitting or lying position). Your doctor may want to discontinue this medication or lower your dosage.

Continue to take pergolide and talk to your doctor if you experience the following less serious, but more common, side reactions:

	Mild nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, or decreased appetite
	Diarrhea or constipation
	Dry mouth
	Drowsiness
	Insomnia
	Agitation or anxiety.

Drug Interaction

Before taking pergolide, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

	A phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), thioridazine (Mellaril), promazine (Sparine), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), and Others
	Haloperidol (Haldol)
	Thiothixene (Navane)
	Metoclopramide (Reglan).

The medicines listed above may decrease the effects of pergolide. Your doctor may want to adjust your pergolide dosage if you are taking any of these medicines.