Hydrochlorothiazide and 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.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa is a combination medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to methyldopa or hydrochlorothiazide, or if you have:

• an allergy to sulfa drugs;

• active liver disease (including cirrhosis or hepatitis);

• a history of a liver disorder caused by taking methyldopa; or

• if you are unable to urinate.

To make sure hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

• liver disease;

• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);

• asthma;

• lupus;

• gout; or

• diabetes.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in the nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial doses (as determined by titration of the individual components):
-Hydrochlorothiazide 15 mg-Methyldopa 250 mg orally 2 or 3 times a day, OR
-Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg-Methyldopa 250 mg orally twice a day, OR
-Hydrochlorothiazide 30 to 50 mg-Methyldopa 500 mg orally once a day

Maximum dose: Hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg/day

Comments:
-This drug is not indicated for initial therapy. Dosage must be individualized, as determined by titration of the individual components.
-Initiate dose increases in the evening to minimize sedation.
-Tolerance to methyldopa may occur, usually between the second and third month of therapy. Additional separate doses of methyldopa or replacement of this drug with the individual components may be required.
-If this drug is given with antihypertensives other than thiazides, the initial dose of methyldopa should be limited to 500 mg a day in divided doses.

Data not available