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Methyldopate Hcl

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  • High blood pressure (hypertension) is designated as either essential (primary) hypertension or secondary hypertension and is defined as a consistently elevated blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg.
  • High blood pressure is called "the silent killer" because it often causes no symptoms for many years, even decades, until it finally damages certain critical organs.
  • Poorly controlled high blood pressure ultimately can cause damage to blood vessels in the eye, thickening of the heart muscle and heart attacks, hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), kidney failure, and strokes.
  • Most antihypertensive medications can be used alone or in combination. Some are used only in combination. Some are preferred over others in certain specific medical situations. And some are not to be used (contraindicated) in other situations.
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Methyldopate Hcl

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OVERDOSE

Acute overdosage may produce acute hypotension with other responses attributable to brain and gastrointestinal malfunction (excessive sedation, weakness, bradycardia, dizziness, lightheadedness, constipation, distention, flatus, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting).

In the event of overdosage, symptomatic and supportive measures should be employed. Management includes special attention to cardiac rate and output, blood volume, electrolyte balance, paralytic ileus, urinary function and cerebral activity.

Sympathomimetic drugs [e.g., levarterenol, epinephrine, ARAMINE* (Metaraminol Bitartrate, MSD)] may be indicated.

The acute intravenous LD50 of Methyldopate HCl (methyldopate hydrochloride injection, solution) in the mouse is 321 mg/kg.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Methyldopate hydrochloride is contraindicated in patients:

-with active hepatic disease, such as acute hepatitis and active cirrhosis.
-with liver disorders previously associated with methyldopa therapy (see WARNINGS).
-with hypersensitivity to any component of this product, including sulfites (see WARNINGS).
-on therapy with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.

Last reviewed on RxList: 8/11/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.

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