Can i take methyldopa while pregnant

This will therefore not cause structural birth defects in the baby. Even if you have taken methyldopa in the first trimester, there is no good evidence that this is linked to birth defects. There are also no known links with miscarriage or stillbirth and no evidence that methyldopa causes preterm birth or low infant birth weight. Other medicines can also be used to treat hypertension in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. However, if your doctor has suggested that you take methyldopa, this will be based on a number of factors including how you have responded to other high blood pressure medicines and whether you have experienced any side effects.

If you have any questions about a medicine that you are offered in pregnancy, you should discuss them with your doctor or midwife.

It is very important to take any medicines prescribed for hypertension or pre-eclampsia as both of these conditions can be serious for both mother and baby. Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when absolutely necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns that you might have.

All pregnant women in the UK should be offered a detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. No extra monitoring for major birth defects is required following methyldopa use in pregnancy. In general, women with high blood pressure will be more closely monitored during pregnancy to ensure that they remain well throughout and that their baby is growing as expected.

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www. Do you have 3 minutes to complete a short, quick and simple 12 question user feedback form about our bumps information leaflets? Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Use Methyldopa Aldomet exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your liver function may also need to be checked.

Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. Methyldopa can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using methyldopa. If you need surgery or a blood transfusion, tell your caregivers ahead of time that you are using methyldopa. Methyldopa doses are based on weight in children.

Your child's dose needs may change if the child gains or loses weight. Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, vomiting, slow heartbeats, or fainting. This usually occurs when you first start taking the drug.

It may also happen if your doctor increases your dosage. If these effects are mild, they may disappear within a few days or a couple of weeks. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects.

This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history. Methyldopa oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking.

An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully.

If you take methyldopa, your doctor may need to use lower doses of anesthetics. Anesthetics also lower your blood pressure. If you take methyldopa and receive regular doses of anesthetics, your blood pressure may drop too low. Using lithium with methyldopa can cause the lithium in your body to rise to dangerous levels. Taking methyldopa with any other drugs that also lower your blood pressure can increase your risk of dangerously low blood pressure.

Examples of these drugs include:. Taking these drugs with methyldopa can cause your blood pressure to rise to dangerous levels. This is known as hypertensive crisis. Examples of MAOIs include:. Taking iron supplements may decrease the amount of methyldopa in your body. This may make methyldopa less effective at lowering your high blood pressure. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

Taking it again could be fatal cause death. While you take this drug, you may have swelling in your hands and feet, or you may gain weight. You may need to take a diuretic water pill to help control the swelling and weight gain. If the edema gets worse or you develop heart failure, you may need to stop taking this drug.

Drinking alcohol while taking methyldopa may increase the effect of this drug. It may slow your reflexes, make you sleepy, or reduce your ability to make good decisions.

Methyldopa can cause severe liver damage. Your doctor will do some tests to check how well your liver is working during the first 6 to 12 weeks after you start taking this medication. For people with kidney disease: Methyldopa is removed from your body by your kidneys. Talk to your doctor about any kidney problems you have or have had. For pregnant women: Methyldopa is a category B pregnancy drug. That means two things:. Therefore, this drug should only be used in pregnancy if clearly needed.

For women who are breastfeeding: Methyldopa passes into breast milk.