METHYLDOPA

(METH il DOE pa) Brand: Aldomet

What is the most significant information I must know about methyldopa?

• You must not take this medicine if you are allergic to methyldopa, or if you have liver malady (especially cirrhosis), or a history of liver problems caused by taking methyldopa.

• Do not use methyldopa if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the recent 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

• Till you take methyldopa, speak your doctor if you have a history of liver malady, kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis), heart malady, angina (chest pain), or a history of heart onslaught or stroke.

• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

• Hold using this medication as directed, even if you feel well. Tall blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

• If you need surgery or a blood transfusion, speak your caregivers onward of time that you are using methyldopa.

• Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. To be certain this medicine is not causing deleterious effects, your liver function may need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

What is methyldopa?

• Methyldopa lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of determined chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels (veins and arteries) to slackening (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 not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking methyldopa?

• You must not take this medicine if you are allergic to methyldopa, or if you have:

· liver malady (especially cirrhosis); or

· a history of liver problems caused by taking methyldopa.

• To create certain you can safely take methyldopa, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis);

· a history of liver malady;

· heart malady, angina (chest pain); or

· a history of heart onslaught or stroke.

• FDA pregnancy category B. Methyldopa is not expected to harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Methyldopa passes into breast milk. It is not known whether methyldopa will harm a nursing infant. Do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take methyldopa?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just till you measure a doze. Measure the liquid with a particular doze measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a doze measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• Hold using this medication as directed, even if you feel well. Tall blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

• This medicine can reason unusual results with determined medical trials. Speak any doctor who treats you that you are using methyldopa.

• If you need surgery or a blood transfusion, speak your caregivers onward of time that you are using methyldopa.

• Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. To be certain this medicine is not causing deleterious effects, your liver function may need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may create your condition worse.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, vomiting, slow heartbeats, or fainting.

What must I avoid while taking methyldopa?

• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

• Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may magnify determined side effects of methyldopa.

What are the possible side effects of methyldopa?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· slow heart rate;

· pale or yellowed skin, fever, confusion or weakness;

· nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;

· feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

· swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;

· light bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin; or

· muscle movements you can't control.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· weight gain;

· drowsiness, dizziness, weakness;

· headache;

· joint pain or swelling, muscle pain;

· dry mouth;

· vomiting, stomach pain;

· swollen or "black" tongue;

· constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas;

· depressed mood, unusual thoughts, nightmares;

· numbness or tingly feeling;

· stuffy nose;

· missed menstrual periods; or

· breast swelling or discharge.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect methyldopa?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· ferrous gluconate, a type of iron (Ferate, Fergon);

· ferrous sulfate, a type of iron (Feosol, Fer-in-Sol, Feratab, and others);

· lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); or

· any another blood pressure medications.

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with methyldopa. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about methyldopa.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each 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 external 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 must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help 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.

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