Midodrine works by constricting (narrowing) the blood vessels and increasing blood pressure.

Midodrine is used to treat low blood pressure (hypotension) that causes severe dizziness or a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out. midodrine is for use only when low blood pressure affects daily life. Midodrine may not improve your ability to perform daily activities.

Midodrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use midodrine if you have severe heart disease, overactive thyroid, an adrenal gland tumor, kidney disease, if you are unable to urinate, or if your blood pressure is high even while lying down.

Midodrine can increase blood pressure even when you are at rest. midodrine should be used only if you have severely low blood pressure that affects your daily life. Midodrine may not improve your ability to perform daily activities.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take midodrine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Midodrine is usually taken 3 times per day, with doses spaced at least 3 hours apart. Take your last dose of the day within 3 or 4 hours before bedtime.

You may take midodrine with or without food.

Take this medicine during your normal waking hours, when your are most likely to be upright and not lying down or napping. Ask your doctor about how to take this medicine if you normally lie down during the day.

Midodrine can increase your blood pressure even while you are lying down or sleeping (when blood pressure is usually lowest). Long-term high blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to serious medical problems.

Follow your doctor's instructions about the best way to position your body while you are laying down or sleeping. You may need to keep your head elevated to help prevent high blood pressure.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked before and during treatment with midodrine. Check your blood pressure while you are lying down, and check it again with your head elevated.

Your kidney and liver function may also need to be checked.

Midodrine is only part of a treatment program that may also include lifestyle changes, wearing support stockings on your legs, and possibly special medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Usual Adult Dose for Hypotension:

10 mg orally 3 times a day during daytime hours when the patient needs to be upright

Comments:
-The three daily doses may be given at 3-hour intervals, if needed, but not more frequently.
-This drug should not be given after the evening meal or less than 4 hours before bedtime.
-This drug should only be continued in patients who appear to attain symptomatic improvement during initial treatment.

Use: Treatment of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients whose lives are considerably impaired despite standard clinical care, including non-pharmacologic treatment such as support stockings, fluid expansion, and lifestyle alterations.

You should not use midodrine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• severe heart disease;

• kidney disease, or if you are unable to urinate;

• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);

• overactive thyroid; or

• high blood pressure even while lying down.

To make sure midodrine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• diabetes;

• glaucoma or a history of vision problems;

• liver disease; or

• a history of kidney disease.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether midodrine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

You may need to skip a dose if you will be resting or lying down for a long period of time during your normal waking hours. Talk to your doctor about how to adjust your dose schedule if needed.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Symptoms of a midodrine overdose may include increased blood pressure (flushing, headache, pounding heartbeat, blurred vision), goosebumps, feeling cold, or trouble urinating.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Avoid taking a dose within less than 3 hours before your normal bedtime.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any over-the-counter diet pills, or cough/cold medicine that contains phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine. These medicines may raise your blood pressure.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking midodrine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severely slowed heart rate--weak pulse, severe dizziness or light-headed feeling; or

• dangerously high blood pressure--severe headache, pounding sensation in your ears ("hearing" your heartbeats), blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure.

Common side effects of midodrine may include:

• chills, goosebumps;

• numbness, tingling, or itching (especially in your scalp);

• headache, dizziness, tired feeling;

• nausea; or

• increased urination, painful or difficult urination, or sudden urge to urinate.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Taking midodrine with other drugs that constrict blood vessels can further increase your blood pressure. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• digoxin, digitalis, droxidopa, fludrocortisone

• an antidepressant;

• asthma medicine;

• heart or blood pressure medicine;

• migraine headache medicine;

• thyroid medicine such as levothyroid or Synthroid;

• drugs to treat high blood pressure or a prostate disorder--prazosin, terazosin, or doxazosin; or

• an MAO inhibitor--isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with midodrine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to midodrine.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.