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Aldomet, |Aldomet

Aldomet

Generic Name: methyldopa (meth ill DOE pa)
Brand Names: Aldomet

What is methyldopa?

Methyldopa lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax (widen) and your heart to beat more slowly and easily.

Methyldopa is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

Methyldopa may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about methyldopa?

Use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position, especially first thing in the morning. You may become dizzy while taking methyldopa and you may fall and injure yourself if you get up quickly.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking methyldopa?

Do not take methyldopa if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or if you have taken one in the last 14 days. MAOIs, used to treat depression, include isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you

• have any type of heart disease,

• have had a heart attack or a stroke, or

• have kidney disease.

You may need a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment with methyldopa if you have any of the conditions listed above.

How should I take methyldopa?

Take methyldopa exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Do not stop taking this medication suddenly even if you feel better. You may need to take methyldopa for the rest of your life to control your condition.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Symptoms of a methyldopa overdose include drowsiness, lethargy, weakness, lightheadedness, a slow heart rate, nausea, vomiting, and possibly seizures.

What should I avoid while taking methyldopa?

Use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position, especially first thing in the morning. You may become dizzy while taking methyldopa and you may fall and injure yourself if you get up quickly.

Methyldopa side effects

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• a very slow heart rate (fewer than 60 beats per minute);

• unusually high or low blood pressure (fainting, a severe headache, flushing of your face);

• chest pain;

• uncontrollable movements of your arms, legs, or facial muscles;

• yellowing of your skin or eyes; or

• unusual bleeding or bruising.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take methyldopa and talk to your doctor if you experience

• unusual fatigue, dizziness, or tiredness;

• headache;

• constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

• insomnia; or

• dry mouth (sucking on ice chips or sugarless hard candy may relieve this side effect).

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect methyldopa?

Do not take methyldopa if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or if you have taken one in the last 14 days. MAOIs, used to treat depression, include isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

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

• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others);

• haloperidol (Haldol);

• levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa, Sinemet);

• tolbutamide (Orinase);

• a respiratory medicine such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, Volmax, others), pirbuterol (Maxair), or salmeterol (Serevent);

• a beta-blocker such as carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate, Normodyne), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), pindolol (Visken), or timolol (Blocadren);

• a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), perphenazine (Trilafon), fluphenazine (Prolixin), or thioridazine (Mellaril);

• a barbiturate such as phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), pentobarbital (Nembutal), or secobarbital (Seconal); or

• a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).

You may require special monitoring or a dose adjustment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with methyldopa or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about methyldopa written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Methyldopa is available with a prescription under the brand name Aldomet. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Aldomet 125 mg--round, yellow, film-coated tablets

• Aldomet 250 mg--round, yellow, film-coated tablets

• Aldomet 500 mg--round, yellow, film-coated tablets

• Aldomet Suspension 250 mg per 5 mL (1 teaspoon)--off-white, creamy suspension with a citric orange-pineapple flavor

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum"s drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum"s drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.