Midodrine
Description
Midodrine is used for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension, a condition of low blood pressure that occurs when standing up quickly from a sitting or lying position. It is caused by blood vessels failing to constrict when the body takes an upright position. This medicine constricts your blood vessels to raise your blood pressure.
Midodrine can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, pounding in the ears, and headache. Consult your doctor if these side effects are getting persistent or worse. Avoid driving vehicles and operating machines as this medicine can make you feel dizzy or drowsy.
Midodrine is usually taken with food for better absorption. Your dose will be dependent on the severity of your condition. Take this medicine same time every day to maintain a constant level of medicine in your body. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor as your symptoms could reoccur.
Midodrine can cause your blood pressure to increase, especially when you are lying down (supine hypertension). Contact your doctor right away if you experience pounding heartbeat, pounding in the ears, headache, blurred vision, etc.
Midodrine is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor about all your current medications and pre-existing medical conditions before starting treatment with this medicine. This will help your doctor to adjust your dose to avoid any side effects. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Midodrine
- Headache
- Pounding in ears
- Blurred vision
- Skin rash
- Back pain
- Dry skin
- Dizziness and drowsiness
- Nausea and vomiting
Uses of Midodrine
What is it prescribed for?
- Orthostatic Hypotension
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe onset of action of Midodrine is not clinically known.
- Duration of effectMidodrine can last up to 24 hours in your body.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Midodrine.
- Usage in pregnancy?Midodrine is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can harm your developing foetus. Hence, consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Due to the lack of relevant safety information, Midodrine is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Midodrine is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Severe organic heart disease
Organic heart disease is any condition that alters the structure of the heart, either transiently or permanently. Midodrine is not recommended for use in such cases as it can alter the blood pressure, which can worsen this condition.
Thyrotoxicosis
Midodrine is not recommended for use if you have thyrotoxicosis, a condition where there is an excess of thyroid hormones in the body. This medicine may trigger or aggravate this condition causing severe side effects.
Urinary retention
Midodrine is not recommended for use in people having urinary retention, a condition where an individual is unable to empty the bladder, due to the increased risk of worsening of the condition.
Severe kidney impairment
Midodrine is not recommended if you have severe kidney problems as it is filtered by your kidneys. If you have severe kidney problems, this medicine will not get filtered properly, therefore increasing the risk of toxicity.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Midodrine is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can harm your developing foetus. Hence, consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
Due to the lack of relevant safety information, Midodrine is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar levels are increased. Midodrine should be used with caution as it may alter your blood sugar levels. Report any symptoms such as an increased frequency of urination, excessive thirst, etc. to your doctor on priority.
Vision problems
Midodrine should be used with caution if you have vision problems especially due to abnormal intraocular pressure (fluid pressure inside the eyes). This medicine can raise intraocular pressure, worsening your eye disorders.
Driving and operating machinery
Use of Midodrine may cause symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, light-headedness, etc. in some patients. It is advised that you do not perform any activities that require high mental alertness such as driving vehicles or operating machines if you experience any of these symptoms during treatment with this medicine.
Use in children
Midodrine is not recommended for use in children less than 18 years of age since the safety and efficacy of use are not clinically established.
Missed Dose
The missed dose of Midodrine should be taken as soon as possible. It is advisable to skip the missed dose if it is already time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Midodrine.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Amitriptyline
Ergotamine
Formoterol
Phenylephrine
Beta blockers
Linezolid
Disease interactions
Kidney Disease
Midodrine is filtered by your kidneys. If you have kidney problems, this medicine will not get filtered properly, therefore increasing the risk of toxicity. Your doctor can adjust the dose while monitoring your condition closely or suggest another medicine if required.
Liver Disease
Midodrine is broken down and absorbed in the liver. Therefore, a damaged liver will not break it down properly, resulting in toxicity. Your doctor can adjust your dose or replace it with another medicine according to your condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Midodrine as directed by your doctor. Drink plenty of water with it to avoid stomach irritation.
Be careful while standing up from a sitting or lying position, as it can make you feel dizzy.
Keep this medicine away from children and pets.
Throw away the unused medicine safely after the expiry date.
Consult your doctor if your experience pounding heartbeat, pounding in the ears, headache, and blurred vision.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Midodrine works by tightening the blood vessels which in turn helps to increase the blood pressure.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Miscellaneous cardiovascular agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Drugs, H., 2022. Midodrine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 2 March 2022].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. MIDODRINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS, USP 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg Rx Only. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 March 2022].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. Midodrine. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 March 2022].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2022. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 March 2022].
Medicines.org.uk. 2022. Bramox 2.5 mg tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 March 2022].
Information on this page was last updated on 6 Jan 2023
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.