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Can Aldomet Or Methyldopa Be Taken For Hypertension?
Question: Is Aldomet or Methyldopa ever prescribed for men? my 70 year old husband has just had this added to his huge list of drugs at 250 mg/twice a day. He's having aches and pains in joints and is so tired he can hardly do his work. He farms about 1500 acres in South XXXXXXX Has been on this along with his other drugs for 2 wks and tiredness is getting worse and blood pressure has not gone down. He had hoped to give it the first 30-day prescription but now doesn't want to take it another day. Any advice?
Brief Answer:
Please see the discussion.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
Methyl dopa is one of the early anti hypertensive medication. There is no contraindication to its use in men. The usage of Methyl dopa has come down as other more effective medicines with less side effects are available now.
Did he have an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring done before Methyl dopa was added? If so could you upload the result. If not, let me know his morning and evening BPs and heart rates.
I see that he is also on medicines for COPD, cholesterol abnormalities. Does he have any coronary artery disease also? Is there any other health issue. Are his blood sugars and kidney functions normal?
If he is unable to tolerate Aldomet, I could suggest another medicine once I have the full picture regarding his health.
Please see the discussion.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
Methyl dopa is one of the early anti hypertensive medication. There is no contraindication to its use in men. The usage of Methyl dopa has come down as other more effective medicines with less side effects are available now.
Did he have an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring done before Methyl dopa was added? If so could you upload the result. If not, let me know his morning and evening BPs and heart rates.
I see that he is also on medicines for COPD, cholesterol abnormalities. Does he have any coronary artery disease also? Is there any other health issue. Are his blood sugars and kidney functions normal?
If he is unable to tolerate Aldomet, I could suggest another medicine once I have the full picture regarding his health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
We monitor his blood pressure here at home. This morning after 1 1/2 cups of black coffee and toast his BP was 162/64. The day before his last appt when they added this drug, his BP was 157/59. Had a renal dopplar before they added the methyldopa which showed ok kidney functions. He does have COPD and vascular issues but his coronary arteries have been good. 10 years ago he had both carotid arteries cleaned out and then when they intended to do leg arteries found an abdominal aortic aneurysm which was repaired. Is there a good reason to keep adding so many prescriptions? Thanks so much for your advice. He does see his dr's regularly, GP, pulmonologist, and vascular.
Brief Answer:
Discussion follows
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the feed back.
If he is very uncomfortable with the Aldomet, monitor his blood pressure without it for a week. The way to do it is to take a lying and standing blood pressure as soon as he wakes up . Check the blood pressure in the evening. Sitting blood pressure suffices. But make sure that he does not use coffee or other stimulants prior to checking the BP. Record the heart rate also.
I shall be happy to look at the values and give my opinion. You can also show the same to his doctor treating his blood pressure. Keeping the blood pressure in the normal range decreases the risk of complications related to high blood pressure.
If there is an access to Ambulatory BP monitoring, it would be better as it monitors the blood pressure frequently during the wake hours and less frequently during the sleep so that a complete picture of how his BP is throughout the day is known.
As his doctor would have already advised he should restrict salt and fats in the food and eat healthy wholesome food in addition to the good exercise he gets on the farm.
Discussion follows
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the feed back.
If he is very uncomfortable with the Aldomet, monitor his blood pressure without it for a week. The way to do it is to take a lying and standing blood pressure as soon as he wakes up . Check the blood pressure in the evening. Sitting blood pressure suffices. But make sure that he does not use coffee or other stimulants prior to checking the BP. Record the heart rate also.
I shall be happy to look at the values and give my opinion. You can also show the same to his doctor treating his blood pressure. Keeping the blood pressure in the normal range decreases the risk of complications related to high blood pressure.
If there is an access to Ambulatory BP monitoring, it would be better as it monitors the blood pressure frequently during the wake hours and less frequently during the sleep so that a complete picture of how his BP is throughout the day is known.
As his doctor would have already advised he should restrict salt and fats in the food and eat healthy wholesome food in addition to the good exercise he gets on the farm.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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