Summary

Commonly reported side effects of methyldopa include: positive direct coombs test. Continue reading for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Applies to methyldopa: solution, tablet.

Serious side effects of Methyldopa

Along with its needed effects, methyldopa may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking methyldopa:

Less common

• Fever, shortly after starting to take this medicine

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking methyldopa:

More common

• Swelling of feet or lower legs

Less common

• Mental depression or anxiety
• nightmares or unusually vivid dreams

Rare

• Dark or amber urine
• diarrhea or stomach cramps (severe or continuing)
• fever, chills, troubled breathing, and fast heartbeat
• general feeling of discomfort or illness or weakness
• joint pain
• pale stools
• skin rash or itching
• stomach pain (severe) with nausea and vomiting
• tiredness or weakness after having taken this medicine for several weeks (continuing)
• yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects of Methyldopa

Some side effects of methyldopa may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Drowsiness
• dryness of mouth
• headache

Less common

• Decreased sexual ability or interest in sex
• diarrhea
• dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
• nausea or vomiting
• numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in hands or feet
• slow heartbeat
• stuffy nose
• swelling of breasts or unusual milk production

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to methyldopa: intravenous solution, oral suspension, oral tablet.

Hepatic

Hepatic toxicity may be highly significant. Transient elevations of liver function tests are seen in 5% of patients, but symptomatic hepatitis, usually resembling viral hepatitis is uncommon. Usually beginning within the first four weeks of therapy, the syndrome typically presents as a fever, followed by icterus, weakness, nausea, and abdominal pain. It usually resolves within three weeks after drug withdrawal, but rare cases of chronic hepatitis and late onset hepatitis are reported. Serious hepatotoxicity is rare, occurring in approximately 0.1% of patients. Fatal cases of submassive hepatic necrosis, postnecrotic cirrhosis, and chronic hepatitis are reported. Granulomatous hepatitis is a rare manifestation of methyldopa hepatotoxicity. In patients who have liver cirrhosis or acute hepatitis, alternative therapy is recommended due to the risk of additional hepatotoxicity associated with methyldopa. If the patient's liver disease is less severe and methyldopa therapy is necessary, frequent monitoring of liver function tests, particularly in the first two to three months of therapy, is recommended.

Methyldopa-associated hepatitis in pregnant patients may cause false-positive maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) results.^[Ref]

The mechanism of methyldopa hepatotoxicity is believed to be delayed hypersensitivity, although some speculate an accumulation of metabolites which are directly hepatotoxic in late-onset cases.

A 78-year-old woman with hypertension and diabetes developed acute renal failure and a clinical picture of sepsis while taking methyldopa. Autopsy revealed disseminated nonnecrotizing granulomas throughout her liver, spleen, lung, lymph nodes, and bone marrow, as well as findings of myocarditis. There was no evidence of infection, including tuberculosis.

A 75-year-old man with hypertension developed severe cholestatic liver disease six years after beginning methyldopa 250 mg per day. There was no evidence of viral or obstructive disease.^[Ref]

Hematologic

In one case of methyldopa-associated neutropenia, a methyldopa-dependent antibody against granulocytes was isolated.

A 75-year-old man with hypertension developed pure red blood cell aplasia within three months after starting methyldopa therapy. The Coombs test and immunoglobulin levels were normal; bone marrow biopsy revealed an absence of erythroid precursors. There was no evidence of hemolysis or infection. Erythroblastosis was observed within five days after drug withdrawal.

A 70-year-old woman with diabetes and hypertension developed thrombocytopenia and an elevated ANA titer associated with methyldopa. Unfortunately, the thrombocytopenia was complicated by a thrombotic stroke. Her platelet count and ANA titer resolved upon substitution with nifedipine. In some cases of methyldopa-associated thrombocytopenia an antiplatelet IgG antibody has been isolated.^[Ref]

Hematologic side effects have included hemolytic anemia due to a methyldopa-provoked autoantibody with associated positive direct Coombs test in 10% to 20% of patients on chronic therapy. Cases of neutropenia, pure red blood cell aplasia, thrombocytopenia, positive LE cells, and rheumatoid factor are reported.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

A 58-year-old man with hypertension and coronary artery disease experienced asystole during carotid massage during methyldopa therapy, which resolved upon discontinuation of the drug. Asystole was reproducible on rechallenge.

A 75-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension developed new signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure associated with new complete AV heart block while taking methyldopa. Six days after stopping the drug, normal sinus rhythm returned. Rechallenge resulted in recurrent complete AV heart block.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular side effects have included hypotension in up to 10% and sinus and AV nodal conduction disturbances in 0.2% of patients. Cases of new AV nodal block, including Mobitz types I and II and complete AV heart block are associated with methyldopa. Methyldopa may cause carotid sinus hypersensitivity, which has resulted in syncope in some patients. Rare cases of myocarditis, often associated with hepatitis or pneumonitis, and paradoxical hypertension are reported.^[Ref]

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects are rare, and have included the development of a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer, a systemic lupus-like syndrome, retroperitoneal fibrosis, immunoblastic lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphoma.^[Ref]

A 55-year-old man with hypertension developed hemolytic anemia, arthritis, and photosensitivity associated with an ANA against class H1 histones 13 months after beginning methyldopa. The syndrome and laboratory abnormalities resolved after drug discontinuation and steroid therapy.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included dizziness in up to 19%, insomnia in less than 5%, general fatigue in 1% to 10%, and headache in 2% of patients. New choreoathetotic movements and exacerbations of Parkinsonian symptoms have been reported.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

A 68-year-old man with hypertension developed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) four weeks after beginning methyldopa 1,000 mg per day. Naive rechallenge of the drug ten months later resulted in recurrent DKA associated with ultrasonographic evidence of pancreatitis. The patient later showed signs of chronic pancreatitis, including weight loss, steatorrhea, and pancreatic calcification.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal side effects have included diarrhea or nausea in 1% to 5% of patients and rare case reports of pancreatitis and colitis. A case of "black tongue" has been reported.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Two case reports of methyldopa-associated profound hypotension, fever, chills, and diarrhea associated with leukocytosis and negative blood cultures are reported in elderly patients. In each case rechallenges were positive.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity reactions including rare reports of vasculitis, rash, drug fever, and anaphylactoid-like reactions have been reported.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic adverse side effects have included case reports of sun-exposed rashes, hyperpigmentation, nodular rashes, and lichenoid eruptions.^[Ref]

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects, such as amenorrhea or galactorrhea, resulting from methyldopa-induced hyperprolactinemia have been reported. A case of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone is associated with methyldopa.^[Ref]

An 81-year-old man with hypertension developed hyponatremia associated with a urine to a serum osmolality ratio of 1.5. A standard water test with and without methyldopa revealed less free water excretion with the drug than without. Interestingly, the patient's bone marrow revealed noncaseating granulomas; there was no evidence of thyroid, adrenal, pulmonary, cardiac, or CNS disease, or tuberculous infection. The patient's hyponatremia, abnormal liver function tests, and abnormal bone marrow findings normalized upon withdrawal of methyldopa.

Limited data show transient reductions in HDL lipoprotein cholesterol of approximately 10% in middle-aged men with hypertension. Over time, however, this reduction tended to revert to baseline values.^[Ref]

Psychiatric

A 62-year-old man developed mania within 4 weeks after switching from methyldopa to nifedipine antihypertensive therapy.

In one study of 41 elderly patients, ages 75 to 85, without pretreatment dementia, who were treated with methyldopa, decreased ability to perform object assembly tasks were noted, but depression was no more likely than with placebo.^[Ref]

Psychiatric side effects have infrequently included depression in 2% of patients and case reports of paranoia and forgetfulness.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Genitourinary complaints of impotence among male patients have rarely been reported, but may be underdiagnosed. Limited data suggest that methyldopa may precipitate in the urine in some patients, providing the nidus for calcium phosphate calculi.^[Ref]

In one study of 258 men, 16% reported impotence. In one study of 27 males with hypertension, seven complained of decreased libido, inability to sustain erections, and difficulty in ejaculation.^[Ref]

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included nasal congestion in less than 5% of patients. A rare case of bronchospasm has been reported in a chemist who manufactured methyldopa.^[Ref]

A 27-year-old chemist who manufactured methyldopa developed nasal congestion, sneezing, and exertional wheezing, associated with a demonstrable fall in FEV1 by 30%. Her signs and symptoms resolved when the environmental exposure to methyldopa was removed. No antibodies to methyldopa were found.^[Ref]