GENERIC NAME: METHYLDOPA - ORAL (meth-ill-DOPE-uh)

BRAND NAME(S): Aldomet

Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage | Medical Alert

USES: This drug is used for high blood pressure (hypertension).

HOW TO USE: Take this medication exactly as prescribed. Try to take it at the same time(s) each day. The tablets may be taken with food or milk to avoid stomach irritation. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness, drowsiness, headache, gas, dry mouth, fatigue, and stomach upset may occur the first several days as your body adjusts to the medication. Inform your doctor if you develop: chest pain, difficulty breathing, depression, severe stomach cramps, unusual bleeding or bruising, yellowing of the skin or eyes, rash. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: liver problems, any allergies. To avoid dizziness and lightheadedness when rising from a seated or lying position, get up slowly. Alcohol may increase the dizziness/drowsiness effects of this medication. Limit alcohol intake. Before using this drug, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Methyldopa is excreted into breast milk. Though there have been no recent reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

High Blood Pressure - High Blood Pressure: Medical information about hypertension, its treatment, therapies and prevention Source:MedicineNet Raynaud's Phenomenon - Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) is a condition in which the fingers and/or the toes change color after exposure to temperature changes or emotional events. The skin discoloration occurs when the blood vessels spasm, causing a diminished blood supply to the local tissues. The digit(s) first turn white because of the diminished blood supply, then they turn blue because of prolonged lack of oxygen, and finally, they turn red when the blood vessels reopen, causing a local "flushing" phenomenon. RP primarily affects women, and its cause is unknown. Protecting the fingers and the toes from cold, trauma, and infection prevents complications from Raynaud's phenomenon. Source:MedicineNet Prolactinoma (Pituitary Tumor) - Learn about prolactinoma, a tumor of the pituitary gland. Symptoms in women include infertility, menstruation changes, decreased libido and painful intercourse. The primary symptom in men is impotence (erectile dysfunction). Source:MedicineNet Read 15 more methyldopa-oral related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection