Midodrine is a vasopressor hypotension medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved midodrine in the United States in 1996 for the treatment of dysautonomia and orthostatic hypotension.
Available Midodrine brands: Amatine, ProAmatine, Gutron.
How does midodrine work to raise low blood pressure?
Midodrine works by stimulating nerve endings in blood vessels, causing the blood vessels to tighten. As a result, blood pressure increases.
Who can use midodrine?
It is useful for the people with orthostatic hypotension (symptoms of low blood pressure when standing). If low blood pressure symptoms severely affect your daily activities, which are not manageable with other treatments. In particular, it is for low blood pressure individuals caused by kidney dialysis and for children with an infection. It is also for the treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome and hepato-pulmonary syndrome.
You should not use Midodrine if you are having severe organic heart disease, acute renal disease, urinary retention, or supine hypertension.
Take low blood pressure medicines as the lost option if your low blood pressure lifestyle and low blood pressure home remedies failed to produce results.
How do you take midodrine?
Take this medication with or without food, usually three times daily with at least four-hour gaps. Avoid taking this medication, if you are going to lie down or before bedtime.
What can expect from midodrine?
It prevents expansion of blood vessels, thus raises your blood pressure particularly in the case of orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up).
What are the possible side effects of midodrine?
Side effects are tingling/itching skin, rash, chills, slow heartbeat, heart pounding, unusual-chest-sensation, fainting, urinary problems, ear blow sensation, headache, blurred vision, and vision problems.
Possible drug interaction of midodrine
Midodrine may interact with following medication, so if possible try to avoid taking it:
- MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine),
- Adrenaline-like drugs (e.g., ephedrine, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine),
- Alpha blockers (e.g., doxazosin, prazosin, terazosin),
- Beta-blockers (e.g., atenolol, metoprolol),
- Digoxin,
- Ergot alkaloids (e.g., dihydroergotamine, ergotamine),
- NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen: because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure.
If you are panic about medication’s side effects, you can alternatively manage with low blood-pressure natural treatments.