Drug
Methyldopa
Pronounced
"meth-ill-DOPE-uh"
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: iron products (such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate), lithium.
Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products that cause drowsiness including alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and opioid pain relievers (such as codeine).
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Some products have ingredients that could raise your blood pressure. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using, and ask how to use them safely (especially cough-and-cold products, diet aids, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen).
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests (such as urine catecholamine test), possibly causing false test results. Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
Negative Interactions
2- Potential Negative Interaction
Methyldopa
Sodium
Excess dietary sodium (salt) intake can cause fluid retention and interfere with the blood pressure lowering action of methyldopa. Reducing the use of table salt and heavily salted foods during methyldopa therapy reduces the likelihood of this interference.
SodiumMethyldopa- Holt GA. Food & Drug Interactions. Chicago: Precept Press, 1998, 171-2 .
- Reduces Effectiveness
Methyldopa
Iron
Iron supplements have been found to decrease methyldopa absorption. Taking methyldopa two hours before or after iron-containing products can help avoid this interaction.
IronMethyldopa- Campbell NR, Hasinoff BB. Iron supplements: A common cause of drug interactions. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1991;31:251-5.
- Campbell N, Paddock V, Sundaram R. Alteration of methyldopa absorption, metabolism, and blood pressure control caused by ferrous sulfate and gluconate. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1988;43:381-6.
Supportive Interactions
1- Replenish Depleted Nutrients
Methyldopa
Vitamin B12
Methyldopa can decrease vitamin B12 levels, thus increasing the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12Methyldopa- Holt GA. Food & Drug Interactions. Chicago: Precept Press, 1998, 74.