midodrine Health Article

Generic name(s):

midodrine

Brand name(s):

ProAmatine

What is the most important information I should know about midodrine?

In some cases, midodrine may cause an excessive increase in blood pressure, especially when lying down. Contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you experience an unusual awareness of heartbeats, pounding in the ears, headache, or blurred vision. These may be signs of increased blood pressure. In some cases, increased blood pressure may cause a slowed heart rate. Contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you experience decreased pulse rate, increased dizziness, fainting, or an unusual awareness of heartbeats. These may be signs of a slowed heart rate.

Midodrine can cause increased blood pressure when lying down. The last dose of midodrine should be taken at least 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. If you are going to be lying down for any length of time during the day, you may need to skip a dose of midodrine. Talk to your doctor about how to take midodrine if you lie down during the day.

Other prescription and over-the-counter medicines may cause an increase in blood pressure, which may be dangerous when taken with midodrine. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines or herbal products especially cough, cold, or allergy products, weight loss products, asthma or respiratory medicines, migraine headache medicines, heart or blood pressure medicines, or antidepressants without first talking to your doctor.

What is midodrine?

Midodrine is a vasopressor. Midodrine causes constriction (tightening) of the blood vessels which leads to an increase in blood pressure.

Midodrine is used to treat low blood pressure.

Midodrine may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking midodrine?

Do not take midodrine without first talking to your doctor if you have

• heart or blood vessel problems (other than low blood pressure);

• high blood pressure;

• kidney problems;

• difficulty urinating;

• pheochromocytoma; or

• over active thyroid.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

• liver problems;

• visual disturbances;

• diabetes; or

• glaucoma.

You may not be able to take midodrine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Midodrine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take midodrine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether midodrine passes into breast milk. Do not take midodrine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take midodrine?

Take midodrine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Midodrine can be taken with or without food.

Take midodrine at regular intervals as directed by your doctor.

Midodrine can cause increased blood pressure when lying down. The last dose of midodrine should be taken at least 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. If you are going to be lying down for any length of time during the day, you may need to skip a dose of midodrine. Talk to your doctor about how to take midodrine if you lie down during the day.

Your doctor may want you to have regular blood pressure monitoring or other medical evaluations during treatment with midodrine to monitor progress and side effects.

Store midodrine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.