NEW ZEALAND CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION METHYLDOPA MYLAN Methyldopa 250 mg Tablets This medicine is available only with If you are not sure whether you What is in this leaflet a doctor’s prescription. should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor. This leaflet answers some common questions about METHYLDOPA Before you take Before you start to take MYLAN. METHYLDOPA it It does not contain all the available MYLAN Tell your doctor if you: information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or When you must not take have a blood disorder called pharmacist. haemolytic anaemia it have liver problems All medicines have risks and Do not take METHYLDOPA have angina (chest pain) benefits. Your doctor has weighed MYLAN if you have an allergy to: are undergoing dialysis (a the risks of you taking procedure used to remove waste METHYLDOPA MYLAN against the any medicine containing products from the blood of a benefits they expect it will have for methyldopa person with kidney failure). you. any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Tell your doctor if you have If you have any concerns about allergies to any other medicines, taking this medicine, ask your Some of the symptoms of an foods, preservatives or dyes. doctor or pharmacist. allergic reaction may include: shortness of breath; wheezing or Tell your doctor if you are Keep this leaflet with the difficulty breathing; swelling of the pregnant or plan to become medicine. You may need to read it face, lips, tongue or other parts of pregnant or are breast-feeding. again. the body; rash, itching or hives on Your doctor can discuss with you the skin. the risks and benefits involved. What METHYLDOPA Do not take METHYLDOPA MYLAN If you have not told your doctor if you: about any of the above, tell MYLAN is used for him/her before you start taking have liver disease such as METHYLDOPA MYLAN. Your METHYLDOPA MYLAN hepatitis or cirrhosis tablets contain the active ingredient take a monoamine oxidase Taking other medicines methyldopa. inhibitor (MAOI), a medicine used to treat depression Tell your doctor or pharmacist if METHYLDOPA MYLAN is used to and Parkinson’s disease you are taking any other lower high blood pressure, also are being treated for medicines, including any that you called hypertension. It works by depression get without a prescription from widening blood vessels so that have phaeochromocytoma your pharmacy, supermarket or blood passes through them more or paranganglioma (rare health food shop. easily. This helps to lower blood tumours of the adrenal Some medicines and pressure. gland) METHYLDOPA MYLAN may or any of your immediate interfere with each other. These There is no evidence that family suffer from porphyria include: METHYLDOPA MYLAN is (a rare blood pigment addictive. disorder). other medicines used to treat high blood pressure Ask your doctor if you have any Do not take this medicine after monoamine oxidase inhibitors questions about why this the expiry date printed on the (MAOIs), medicines used to treat medicine has been prescribed for pack or if the packaging is torn or depression and Parkinson’s you. shows signs of tampering. disease, such as moclobemide, Your doctor may have prescribed it If it has expired or is damaged, phenelzine and tranylcypromine for another reason. return it to your pharmacist for lithium, a medicine used to treat disposal. mood swings and some types of depression Page 1 of 4 iron supplements and It does not matter if you take this multivitamins containing iron. medicine before or after food. While you are taking METHYLDOPA These medicines may be affected How long to take it by METHYLDOPA MYLAN or may MYLAN affect how well it works. You may Continue taking your medicine need different amounts of your for as long as your doctor tells medicines, or you may need to take you. Things you must do This medicine helps to control your different medicines. Have your blood pressure condition, but does not cure it. It is checked when your doctor says important to keep taking your Your doctor and pharmacist have to make sure the medicine is medicine even if you feel well. more information on medicines to working. be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine. If you forget to take it If you are about to be started on If you forget a dose, skip the any new medicine, remind your How to take dose you missed and take your doctor and pharmacist that you next dose when you are meant to. are taking METHYLDOPA METHYLDOPA MYLAN. Do not take a double dose to MYLAN make up for the dose that you Tell any other doctors, dentists, missed. and pharmacists who treat you Follow all directions given to you This may increase the chance of that you are taking this medicine. by your doctor or pharmacist you getting an unwanted side effect. carefully. If you are going to have surgery, They may differ from the information If you are not sure what to do, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist contained in this leaflet. ask your doctor or pharmacist. that you are taking this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery. If you do not understand the If you have trouble remembering to instructions on the bottle, ask take your medicine, ask your your doctor or pharmacist for pharmacist for some hints. If you become pregnant while help. taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately. If you take too much How much to take (overdose) If you are about to have any Your doctor will tell you how much blood and urine tests, tell your METHYLDOPA MYLAN you need Immediately telephone your doctor that you are taking this to take each day. It is important doctor or the National Poisons medicine. that you take METHYLDOPA Information Centre (0800 POISON It may interfere with the results of MYLAN as directed by your doctor. or 0800 764 766) for advice, or go some tests. Do not take more than the to Accident and Emergency at recommended dose. the nearest hospital, if you think Keep all of your doctor’s that you or anyone else may have appointments so that your The usual starting dose for adults is taken too much METHYLDOPA progress can be checked. 250 mg, taken two to three times a MYLAN. Do this even if there are Your doctor may do some tests day. Your doctor may increase or no signs of discomfort or from time to time to make sure the decrease this dose, depending on poisoning. You may need urgent medicine is working and to prevent how you respond to this medicine. medical attention. unwanted side effects. Elderly people over 65 years of age If you take too many tablets, you will Things you must not do and people with kidney problems probably feel light-headed and dizzy may need smaller doses. or you may faint. You may also feel Do not take METHYLDOPA very drowsy, weak, may have a MYLAN to treat any other slow heart rate, be constipated, For children, the starting dose is complaints unless your doctor have abdominal bloating, diarrhoea, based on their weight. Your child’s tells you to. nausea or vomiting. doctor may increase or decrease this dose, depending on their Do not give your medicine to response to this medicine. anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you. When to take it Do not stop taking your medicine Take your medicine at about the or lower the dosage without same time each day. checking with your doctor. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it. Page 2 of 4 Things to be careful of weakness. If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well. Be careful driving or operating The above list includes the more machinery until you know how common side effects of your Keep your tablets in a cool dry METHYLDOPA MYLAN affects medicine. These side effects may place where the temperature you. occur at the beginning of treatment stays below 30°C. This medicine may cause dizziness, or when the dose is increased. light-headedness or drowsiness in Do not store METHYLDOPA some people. If you have any of Tell your doctor as soon as MYLAN or any other medicine in the these symptoms, do not drive, possible if you notice any of the bathroom or near a sink. Do not operate machinery or do anything following: leave it on a window sill or in the else that could be dangerous. car. fever shortly after taking Heat and dampness can destroy Be careful when drinking alcohol METHYLDOPA MYLAN, for some medicines. while you are taking this example within the first 3 months medicine. Keep it where children cannot Combining alcohol with your yellowing of the eyes or reach it. medicine may make you more skin (jaundice) A locked cupboard at least one-and- drowsy, dizzy or light headed. darker urine than normal a half metres above the ground is a pale stools good place to store medicines. If you feel light-headed, dizzy or swelling of the feet or faint when getting out of bed or ankles Disposal standing up, get up slowly. nightmares, feeling strange Standing up slowly, especially when or depressed If your doctor tells you to stop you get up from bed or chairs, will signs of infection such as taking this medicine or the expiry help your body get used to the fever, chills, sore throat or date has passed, ask your change in position and blood mouth ulcers pharmacist what to do with any pressure.