PRODOPA
Methyldopa 125mg, 250mg and 500mg Tablets
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about PRODOPA. It does not contain
all the information available on this medicine. It does not take the place of
talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits.
Your doctor has weighed the risks of using PRODOPA against the benefits expected
it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask
your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.
What PRODOPA is used for and how it works
Your PRODOPA tablets contain the active ingredient methyldopa.
PRODOPA is used to lower high blood pressure, also called hypertension. It
works by widening blood vessels so that blood passes through them more easily.
This helps to lower blood pressure.
Your doctor may, however, prescribe PRODOPA for another reason. Ask your
doctor if you have any questions about why PRODOPA has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that PRODOPA is addictive.
PRODOPA is available on prescription from your doctor.
Before you take PRODOPA
When you must not take it
Do not take PRODOPA if:
- You are allergic to methyldopa or any other ingredients listed at the
end of this leaflet - You have liver disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis
- You have a past history of liver problems due to taking methyldopa
- You are currently taking any monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), used
to treat depression and Parkinson's disease
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or
difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the
body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Before you take it
Tell your doctor:
- If you have blood problems
- If you have liver problems
- If you are undergoing dialysis (a procedure used to remove waste products
from the blood of a person with kidney failure) - If you have phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland)
- If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
Taking other medicines
If you are taking any other medicines, including any you get without a
prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, tell your doctor
or pharmacist.
Medicines that may interfere with PRODOPA include:
- Other medicines used to treat high blood pressure
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), medicines used to treat depression
and Parkinson's disease - Lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression
These medicines may be affected by PRODOPA or may affect how well PRODOPA
works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take
different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking PRODOPA.
How to take PRODOPA properly
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much PRODOPA you need to take each day. It is
important that you take PRODOPA as directed by your doctor. Do not take more
than the recommended dose.
The usual starting dose for adults is 250mg, taken two to three times a day.
Your doctor may increase or decrease this dose, depending on how you respond to
this medicine.
Elderly people over 65 years of age and people with kidney problems may need
smaller doses.
For children, the starting dose is based on their weight. Your child's doctor
may increase or decrease this dose, depending on their response to this
medicine.
How long to take it
PRODOPA helps to control your condition but does not cure it. To properly
control your condition, PRODOPA must be taken every day on a long-term basis.
Continue taking PRODOPA for as long as your doctor tells you to.
If you forget a dose
If you forget a dose, just take the next dose when it is due. Do not take
more than one dose at a time to make up for missed doses.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day may help you to remember to
take it regularly. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask
your pharmacist for some hints.
While you are taking PRODOPA
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are
taking PRODOPA.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking PRODOPA before you start
any new medicine.
Tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or hives, or you become pregnant
while taking PRODOPA.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you
are taking PRODOPA.
If you are going to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are
taking PRODOPA.
Do not take PRODOPA to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells
you to.
Do not stop taking PRODOPA or lower the dose without first checking with your
doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if his or her symptoms seem
similar to yours.
Be careful getting up from a sitting or lying position. Dizziness,
lightheadedness or fainting may occur when you begin to take PRODOPA, or if the
dose is increased. This happens especially when you get up quickly from a
sitting or lying position. Getting up slowly may help. This problem usually goes
away after the first few days.
PRODOPA may cause dizziness, drowsiness or lightheadedness in some people.
Be careful when driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to
be alert, until you are certain that PRODOPA is not affecting your performance.
Side effects
Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well
while you are taking PRODOPA.
All medicines can have some unwanted 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.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they
worry you:
- Dizziness, lightheadedness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
These are the common and mild side effects of methyldopa, which may disappear
with continued treatment. These side effects may occur at the beginning of
treatment or when the dose is increased.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience:
- Ongoing weakness
- Fever shortly after taking PRODOPA, for example within the first 3 months
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- Darker urine than normal
- Pale stools
- Swelling of the feet or ankles
- Nightmares, feeling strange or depressed
- Signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
- Bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
- Tiredness, looking pale together with being short of breath when
exercising and tingling or numbness of the hands or feet - Itchy skin rash or other skin problems
- Slow heart beat or pulse
- Worsening of angina (chest pain)
These side effects are rare but serious. You may need urgent medical
attention.
The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. If you should
suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please tell
your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
In case of overdose
You should only take the number of tablets that you have been told.
Immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information Centre
(0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency department at your nearest
hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone else has
taken any PRODOPA by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort
or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Take the container of
PRODOPA with you if you can.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Storage conditions
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date shown on the label or if the
packaging shows signs of tampering.
Keep your PRODOPA tablets in the container until it is time to take them.
Store below 25°C and out of reach of children. Avoid exposure to heat, light
and moisture.
Do not store PRODOPA, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking PRODOPA or if the tablets have passed
the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the remaining medicine.
Product Description
What PRODOPA tablets look like
PRODOPA 125mg tablets are round, yellow, film-coated tablets that are marked
with "MD" over "125" on one side and "G" on the other.
PRODOPA 250mg tablets are round, yellow, film-coated tablets that are marked
with "MD" over "250" on one side and "G" on the other.
PRODOPA 500mg tablets are round, yellow, film-coated tablets that are marked
with "MD" over "500" on one side and "G" on the other.
Each PRODOPA tablet contains the active ingredient, methyldopa.
Each PRODOPA tablet also contains the ingredients citric acid, disodium
edetate, ethylcellulose, guar gum, sodium starch glycollate, colloidal silicon
dioxide, magnesium stearate and the film coat (citric acid and opadry yellow).