Methyldopa

Methyldopa, sold under the brand name Aldomet among others, is a medication used for high blood pressure. It is one of the preferred treatments for high blood pressure in pregnancy. For other types of high blood pressure including very high blood pressure resulting in symptoms other medications are typically preferred. It can be given by mouth or injection into a vein. Onset of effects is around 5 hours and they last about a day.

Methyldopa
Clinical data
Trade namesAldomet, Aldoril, Dopamet, others
Other namesL-α-Methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa682242
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: A
Routes of
administration		By mouth, intravenous
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailabilityapproximately 50%
MetabolismLiver
Onset of action4 to 6 hrs
Elimination half-life105 minutes
Duration of action10 to 48 hrs
ExcretionKidney for metabolites
Identifiers
  • (S)-2-amino-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl-propanoic acid
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.008.264
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC10H13NO4
Molar mass211.217 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • C[C@](N)(Cc1ccc(O)c(O)c1)C(=O)O
  • InChI=1S/C10H13NO4/c1-10(11,9(14)15)5-6-2-3-7(12)8(13)4-6/h2-4,12-13H,5,11H2,1H3,(H,14,15)/t10-/m0/s1 N
  • Key:CJCSPKMFHVPWAR-JTQLQIEISA-N N
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Common side effects include sleepiness. More severe side effects include red blood cell breakdown, liver problems, and allergic reactions. Methyldopa is in the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist family of medication. It works by stimulating the brain to decrease the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Methyldopa was discovered in 1960. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

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