Α-methyldopa

Methyldopa

Clinical data
Trade names	Aldomet, Aldoril, Dopamet, others
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a682242
Pregnancy category	AU: A US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
Routes of administration	by mouth, IV
ATC code	C02AB01 (WHO) C02AB02 (WHO) (racemic)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only) CA: ℞-only UK: POM (Prescription only) US: ℞-only
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	approximately 50%
Metabolism	Liver
Onset of action	4 to 6 hrs
Biological half-life	105 minutes
Duration of action	10 to 48 hrs
Excretion	Kidney for metabolites
Identifiers
IUPAC name (S)-2-amino-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl-propanoic acid
Synonyms	L-α-Methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
CAS Number	555-30-6 Y
PubChem CID	38853 40175
IUPHAR/BPS	5217
DrugBank	DB00968 Y
ChemSpider	35562 N
UNII	56LH93261Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL459 N
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.264
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C10H13NO4
Molar mass	211.215 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
SMILES C[C@](CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)O)(C(=O)O)N
InChI 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?)

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.

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.

Methydopa was discovered in 1960. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 4.31 to 9.48 USD per month. In the United States it costs less than 25 USD per month.

Methyldopa is used in the clinical treatment of the following disorders:

Methyldopa is capable of inducing a number of adverse side effects, which range from mild to severe. Nevertheless, they are generally mild when the dose is less than 1 gram per day. Side effects may include:

Rebound hypertension via withdrawal on account of tolerance upon the abrupt discontinuation of methyldopa has been reported.