1 May 2026Oral drugs
Methyldopa oral
Methyldopa guidance for hypertension in pregnancy, with gradual titration and hepatic monitoring precautions.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Centrally acting antihypertensive.
Indications
Hypertension in pregnancy.
Forms and strengths
- 250 mg tablet.
Dose
- Initially 250 mg 2 to 3 times daily for 2 days, then increase gradually if necessary by 250 mg every 2 to 3 days until the optimal dose is reached, usually 1.5 g daily.
- Do not exceed 3 g daily.
Duration
According to clinical response. Do not stop treatment abruptly; reduce doses gradually.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with active liver disease, history of drug-induced hepatitis, or severe depression.
- Administer with caution to patients with hepatic impairment, and reduce doses in renal impairment.
- May cause orthostatic hypotension, drowsiness, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, dry mouth, and rarely haematological, hepatic, mental, or allergic disorders.
- Stop treatment in the event of haemolytic anaemia or jaundice.
- In unexplained fever during treatment, check blood count and transaminases for possible hepatitis.
- Monitor combination with lithium, antidepressants, and CNS depressants.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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