Aldomet (Methyldopa) Drug / Medicine Information

Methyldopa

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

What it is used for

Aldomet lowers high blood pressure, which doctors call hypertension.

Everyone has blood pressure. This pressure helps get your blood all around your body. Your blood pressure may be different at different times of the day, depending on how busy or worried you are. You have hypertension (high blood pressure) when your blood pressure stays higher than is needed, even when you are calm and relaxed.

There are usually no symptoms of hypertension. The only way of knowing that you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. If high blood pressure is not treated it can lead to serious health problems. You may feel fine and have no symptoms, but eventually hypertension can cause stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. Aldomet helps to lower your blood pressure.

Aldomet works by controlling impulses along certain nerve pathways. As a result, it relaxes and widens blood vessels so that blood passes through them more easily. This helps to lower blood pressure.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Aldomet has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.

This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.

There is no evidence that it is addictive.

Before you take it

When you must not take it

Do not take Aldomet if:

you have an allergy to Aldomet or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet

you have taken Aldomet in the past and developed liver problems

you have certain liver diseases, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis

you are being treated for depression with medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

MAOIs include moclobemide, phenelzine and tranylcypromine.

the bottle shows signs of tampering

the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.

If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking Aldomet, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed.

Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Aldomet during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Aldomet passes into breast milk.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

angina

liver disease

phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland, which sits near the kidney), or if you are suspected of having this

are undergoing dialysis.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines or any foods, preservatives or dyes.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take any Aldomet.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines should not be taken with Aldomet. These include:

medicines used to treat depression such as moclobemide, phenelzine and tranylcypromine.

Some medicines and Aldomet may interfere with each other. These include:

other medicines for high blood pressure

lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depressions

iron supplements and multivitamins containing iron.

These medicines may be affected by Aldomet or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking Aldomet.

How to take it

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

How much to take

Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take each day.

This depends on your condition and whether you are taking any other medicines.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How to take it

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water or other liquid.

When to take it

Take your medicine at about the same time each day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

If you are taking it twice a day, take the tablets at breakfast time and dinner time - that is, about 12 hours apart.

If you are taking it three times a day, take the tablets about 8 hours apart.

Taking your tablets at the same time each day will have the best effect on your blood pressure. It will also help you remember when to take the tablets.

It does not matter whether you take Aldomet before or after food.

How long to take it

Continue taking Aldomet for as long as your doctor tells you.

This medicine helps to control your high blood pressure but does not cure it. Therefore it must be taken every day.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.

If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.

If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Aldomet. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

If you take too many tablets, you will probably feel light-headed and dizzy or you may faint. You may also feel very drowsy, weak, may have a slow heart rate, be constipated, have abdominal bloating, gas in the stomach or bowel, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting.

While you are taking it

Things you must do

Have your blood pressure checked when your doctor says to make sure Aldomet is working.

If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint, get up slowly when getting out of bed or standing up.

You may feel light-headed or dizzy when you begin to take Aldomet or if the dose is increased. This is because your blood pressure is falling suddenly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. The problem usually goes away after the first few days.

If you are about to be started on any new medicine tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Aldomet.

If you plan to have surgery (even at the dentist) that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Aldomet.

Your blood pressure may drop suddenly.

If you are having blood and urine tests, tell your doctor you are taking Aldomet.

Aldomet may interfere with some of these tests giving incorrect results.

If you develop fever, tell your doctor.

Your doctor may need to do some blood tests to make sure Aldomet is not affecting your liver or blood.

Tell your doctor if you are to have a blood transfusion, that you are taking Aldomet or have taken it in the past few months.

Aldomet may interfere with the tests used to decide which blood group you receive.

Make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather when you are taking Aldomet, especially if you sweat a lot.

If you do not drink enough water while taking it, you may faint or feel light-headed or sick. This is because your body doesn't have enough fluid and your blood pressure is low. If you continue to feel unwell, tell your doctor.

Things you must not do

Do not give Aldomet to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Aldomet affects you.

Aldomet may cause dizziness, light headedness, drowsiness or sleepiness, especially after the first few doses and if the dose is increased. Make sure you know how you react to it before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or drowsy. If you drink alcohol, dizziness or drowsiness may be worse.

Things that would be helpful for your blood pressure

Some self help measures suggested below may help your condition. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these measures and for more information.

Alcohol - your doctor may advise you to limit your alcohol intake.

Diet - eat a healthy diet which includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, bread, cereals and fish. Also eat less fat and sugar.

Exercise - regular exercise helps to reduce blood pressure and helps the heart get fitter, but it is important not to overdo it. Walking is good exercise, but try to find a route that is fairly flat.

Before starting any exercise, ask your doctor about the best kind of programme for you.

Salt - your doctor may advise you to watch the amount of salt in your diet. To reduce your salt intake you should avoid using salt in cooking or at the table.

Smoking - your doctor may advise you to stop smoking or at least cut down.

Weight - your doctor may suggest losing some weight to help lower your blood pressure. Some people may need a dietician's help to lose weight.

Side Effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Aldomet.

Aldomet helps most people with high blood pressure, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

dizziness

light-headedness

drowsiness

headache

weakness.

These are all mild side effects of Aldomet and may disappear with continued treatment. They may also occur if the dose is increased.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

fever shortly after starting to take Aldomet, for example, within the first 3 months

yellowing of the skin and eyes, also called jaundice

darker urine than normal due to liver problems

pale stools

swelling of the feet or lower legs

nightmares, feeling strange or depressed

signs of frequent or worrying infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers

bruising more easily than normal

signs of anaemia, such as tiredness, being short of breath, and looking pale

numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in your hands or feet

itchy skin rash or other skin problems

a slow heart beat or pulse

worsening of angina (chest pain)

larger breasts than normal, especially in men.

These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

After taking it

Storage

Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.

If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well.

Keep it in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.

Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.

Product description

What it looks like

Aldomet is a yellow, round tablet with '250' marked on one side and 'ALDOMET' on the other side.

A bottle contains 100 tablets.

Ingredients

Active ingredient:

Each tablet contains 250 mg methyldopa.

Inactive ingredients:

carnauba wax

silica - colloidal anhydrous

citric acid - anhydrous

magnesium stearate

hypromellose

sodium calcium edetate

propylene glycol

ethylcellulose

talc - purified

guar gum

titanium dioxide

cellulose - powdered

iron oxide red

quinoline yellow aluminium lake

Aldomet does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten or tartrazine.

Sponsor

Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd

34-36 Chandos Street

St Leonards NSW 2065

Australian Registration Number:

AUST R 34361

This leaflet was prepared in December 2009.