Midodrine

Generic name: Midodrine
Dosage form: oral tablet (10 mg; 2.5 mg; 5 mg)
Drug class: Miscellaneous cardiovascular agents

Usage of Midodrine

Midodrine works by constricting (narrowing) the blood vessels and increasing blood pressure.

Midodrine is used to treat low blood pressure (hypotension) that causes severe dizziness or a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out. midodrine is for use only when low blood pressure affects daily life. Midodrine may not improve your ability to perform daily activities.

Midodrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Midodrine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking midodrine and call your doctor at once if you have:

severely slowed heart rate--weak pulse, severe dizziness or light-headed feeling; or

dangerously high blood pressure--severe headache, pounding sensation in your ears ("hearing" your heartbeats), blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure.

Common side effects of midodrine may include:

chills, goosebumps;

numbness, tingling, or itching (especially in your scalp);

headache, dizziness, tired feeling;

nausea; or

increased urination, painful or difficult urination, or sudden urge to urinate.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Midodrine

You should not use midodrine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

severe heart disease;

kidney disease, or if you are unable to urinate;

pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);

overactive thyroid; or

high blood pressure even while lying down.

To make sure midodrine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

diabetes;

glaucoma or a history of vision problems;

liver disease; or

a history of kidney disease.

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

It is not known whether midodrine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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How to use Midodrine

Usual Adult Dose for Hypotension:

10 mg orally 3 times a day during daytime hours when the patient needs to be uprightComments:-The three daily doses may be given at 3-hour intervals, if needed, but not more frequently.-This drug should not be given after the evening meal or less than 4 hours before bedtime.-This drug should only be continued in patients who appear to attain symptomatic improvement during initial treatment.Use: Treatment of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients whose lives are considerably impaired despite standard clinical care, including non-pharmacologic treatment such as support stockings, fluid expansion, and lifestyle alterations.

Warnings

You should not use midodrine if you have severe heart disease, overactive thyroid, an adrenal gland tumor, kidney disease, if you are unable to urinate, or if your blood pressure is high even while lying down.

Midodrine can increase blood pressure even when you are at rest. midodrine should be used only if you have severely low blood pressure that affects your daily life. Midodrine may not improve your ability to perform daily activities.

What other drugs will affect Midodrine

Taking midodrine with other drugs that constrict blood vessels can further increase your blood pressure. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

digoxin, digitalis, droxidopa, fludrocortisone

an antidepressant;

asthma medicine;

heart or blood pressure medicine;

migraine headache medicine;

thyroid medicine such as levothyroid or Synthroid;

drugs to treat high blood pressure or a prostate disorder--prazosin, terazosin, or doxazosin; or

an MAO inhibitor--isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with midodrine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Disclaimer

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