Metergoline in the inhibition of puerperal lactation.

Seventy-eight mothers who did not want to breast-feed their newborn infants took part in a trial to assess whether metergoline could effectively suppress puerperal lactation. Metergoline 8 mg/day was given to 69 women within 24 hours after delivery and continued for five days to prevent lactation. The remaining nine women were given a course of metergoline once lactation had started. The drug was effective in both preventing and suppressing lactation. Milk secretion, engorgement, and pain were significantly reduced in women taking metergoline. Metergoline has a similar effect to bromocriptine in suppressing lactation, but its mechanism of action remains unknown.