Adult Dosing
Moderate to severe hypertension
- Initial dose: Start 250 mg PO bid or tid in first 48 hours (do not exceed 500 mg/day if used with other agents)
- Titrate: Increase or decrease PRN q2 days until adequate response is achieved
- Maintenence dose: 0.5-2 g/day PO divided bid-qid
- Max: 3 g/day
Pediatric Dosing
Moderate to severe hypertension
- Initial dose: 10 mg/kg/day PO divided bid-qid
- Titrate: Increase q2 days until adequate response is achieved
- Max: 65 mg/kg/day in divided doses or 3 g/day whichever is less
[Outline]
- Positive Coombs test, hemolytic anemia, and liver disorders may occur; monitor patient closely because of potentially fatal complications
- Jaundice, with or without fever, may occur. Fatal hepatic necrosis has been reported rarely. Treatment may need to be discontinued if serious hepatic necrosis occurs
- Some patients taking methyldopa experience clinical edema/weight gain which may be controlled by use of a diuretic. Discontinue drug if edema progresses or signs of heart failure appear
- May impair ability to drive or operate machinery
- Monitor blood counts and perform LFTs
- Monitor HCTs, Hb, cardiac function at baseline, then periodically
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Bradycardia
- Concurrent levodopa therapy
- Concurrent other antihypertensives
- Elderly patients
Pregnancy Category:B
Breastfeeding: Probably safe; methyldopa is excreted in breastmilk in small amounts and thus would not be expected to cause any adeverse events in breastfed infants. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 9 February 2011).
Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.
- Methyldopa 250 MG TABS [Bottle] (TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA)
120 mg = $25.98
180 mg = $28.96
Warning: This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
