Methyldopa and Depression

Interaction between levodopa and methyldopa.

The interaction between methyldopa and levodopa was studied in 18 patients with Parkinsonism. Together they produced a fall in blood pressure in doses which when given alone had no effect or only a slight hypotensive effect. Severe hypotension never occurred. It is reasonable to give methyldopa to hypertensive patients on levodopa but the regimen should be initiated in hospital.

Cholestatic jaundice due to methyldopa.

The occurrence of hepatitis in patients taking methyldopa was first described over 10 years ago (Gillespie et al., 1962). Though the degree of bile retention in puiblished case reports varies considerably (Tysell and Knauer, 1971) the clinical picture described is generally indistinguishable from viral hepatitis. When the following patient was seen drug-induced jaundice was suspected but as we ...

Antihypertensive Metabolites of a-Methyldopa

a-Methyldopa acts through a metabolite in the central nervous system. Of the three metabolites most prominently considered as potential mediators of a-methyldopa hypotension — amethyldopamine, a-methylnorepinephrine (MNE), and a-methylepinephrine (ME) — ME is the most potent depressor agent following intravenous infusion into rats, following injection into the lateral ventricle, and following i...

Amenorrhoea, galactorrhoea, and hyperprolactinaemia induced by methyldopa.

Meacock SCR, Kitchen EA, Dawson W. Effects of benoxaprofen and some other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on leucocyte migration. European J'ournal of Rheumatology and Inflammation 1979 ;3 :23. 2 Collum LMT, Bowen DI. Ocular side effects of ibuprofen. BrJ' Ophthalmol 1971;55:472-7. 3 Palmer CAL. Toxic amblyopia from ibuprofen. Br MedJ 1972;iii:765. 4 Melluish JW, Brooks CD, Ruoff G, Cross...

Maternal methyldopa treatment and neonatal blood pressure.