Midodrine (By Mouth)

Midodrine (MI-doe-dreen)

Treats a kind of low blood pressure that can cause severe dizziness or fainting.

Brand Name(s):

Proamatine
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to midodrine or if you have severe heart or kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, problems emptying your bladder, high blood pressure, or pheochromocytoma (a tumor on the adrenal gland).

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take and how often.
• Your doctor may tell you to take this medicine in the morning, at noon, and in the late afternoon.
• Lying down after taking midodrine may cause your blood pressure to get too high. Don't take the last dose of the day after 6 pm (unless your doctor tells you differently), and be sure you wait at least 3-to-4 hours after the last dose before going to bed.
• Wait at least 3 hours between each dose of this medicine.
• You may take the medicine with food or on an empty stomach.

If a dose is missed:

• Take the missed dose as soon as possible, unless you are due to take your next dose within 3 hours.
• Skip the missed dose if you are due to take your next dose within 3 hours.
• You should not use two doses at the same time.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the tablets at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking dihydroergotamine (DHE 45), fludrocortisone (Florinef®), prazosin (Minipress®), terazosin (Hytrin®), doxazosin (Cardura®), metformin (Glucophage®), cimetidine (Tagamet®), ranitidine (Zantac®), procainamide (Procan SR®), triamterene (Dyazide®, Dyrenium®), flecainide (Tambocor®), or quinidine.
• Tell your doctor if you are taking digoxin (Lanoxin®) or beta blockers such as propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol, timolol, and others. If your heart beats become slower or if you feel dizzy while taking midodrine, tell your doctor.
• Some diet pills and over-the-counter cold and hay fever medicines can also raise your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor before taking these or any other medicines.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Check with your doctor before taking this medicine if you have problems urinating, diabetes, glaucoma, or liver disease.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
• This medicine will raise your blood pressure. Your blood pressure may get too high, especially when you lie down. Your doctor may want you to sleep with the head of your bed raised to help prevent this.
• If your blood pressure gets too high, you may have a fast heartbeat, chest pain, pounding in your ears, a headache, or blurred vision. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor right away.
• While you are taking this medicine, you will need to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Keep all appointments with your doctor.
• If you have been taught to check your blood pressure yourself, check it on a regular schedule. Your blood pressure should stay within a certain range. Your doctor will tell you what that range should be. If your blood pressure is out of that range, call your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Fast heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Pounding in your ears, headache
• Eye pain or blurred vision

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Tingling or itching, especially on your scalp
• Chills or goosebumps
• Urinating more often than usual or feeling the urge to urinate more often
• Stomach pain

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.