Orthostatic Hypotension - useful treatment with Midodrine
Orthostatic Hypotension
Midodrine
Dosage and Administration
Administration
Midodrine hydrochloride is administered orally, usually in 3 equally divided doses daily. Since food does not appear to affect GI absorption of midodrine hydrochloride, the drug generally can be administered without regard to meals.
Dosage
Safety and efficacy of midodrine hydrochloride in children younger than 18 years of age have not been established. The manufacturer states that midodrine hydrochloride dosage adjustment based solely on age is not necessary in geriatric patients. Dosage adjustment based solely on gender also is not necessary.
Dosage in Renal and Hepatic Impairment
The manufacturer recommends that renal function be assessed prior to initiating midodrine therapy.Because the drug’s active metabolite (desglymidodrine) is eliminated by renal excretion and because safety and efficacy have not been studied systematically in patients with renal impairment to date, the manufacturer states that midodrine should be dosed cautiously in patients with abnormal renal function.The manufacturer recommends that midodrine hydrochloride therapy be initiated with 2.5-mg doses in such adults. Desglymidodrine is dialyzable.Midodrine has not been studied systematically in patients with hepatic impairment, and the effect of alterations in hepatic function on the disposition of the drug currently is not known.Therefore, while the manufacturer currently makes no specific recommendations for dosage adjustment in patients with hepatic impairment, midodrine should be used with caution in such patients.
Description
Midodrine is a synthetic sympathomimetic amine that is structurally similar to methoxamine. Midodrine is a prodrug and has little pharmacologic activity until metabolized to desglymidodrine .Desglymidodrine is a relatively long-acting α1-selective adrenergic agonistthat acts almost exclusively by a direct effect on peripheral α-adrenergic receptors of the arterial and venous vasculature, increasing vascular tone.Total peripheral resistance is increased,resulting in increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Standing blood pressure is increased by about 10–30 mm Hg 1 hour after a 10-mg dose of midodrine hydrochloride in patients with orthostatic hypotension, with some effect persisting for 2–3 hours;a 10-mg dose of the drug produces only modest elevations in supine and standing blood pressure in healthy individuals. Some evidence suggests that midodrine’s efficacy in improving standing blood pressure also may result in part from increased body weight during therapy with the drug, presumably secondary to expansion of extracellular fluid volume.Unlike most vasopressors, midodrine has virtually no stimulant effect on β-adrenergic receptors, including those of the heart. In addition, because desglymidodrine crosses the blood-brain barrier poorly, the drug generally does not appear to produce appreciable CNS stimulation. Because midodrine stimulates the trigone and sphincter of the urinary bladder, symptoms of urinary urgency can occur.The drug also stimulates pilomotor muscles, resulting in pilomotor effects (e.g., goose bumps, sensation of hair standing on end),and contracts the radial muscle of the iris, resulting in pupillary dilation. For additional information on this drug until a more detailed monograph is developed and published, the manufacturer’s labeling should be consulted. It is essential that the labeling be consulted for detailed information on the usual cautions, precautions, and contraindications.
Adverse Effects List from First Databank
More Frequent
BURNING,ITCHING,PRICKLING OF SCALP, CHILLS, HYPERTENSION (severe), SUPINE HYPERTENSION (severe), URINARY FREQUENCY, URINARY RETENTION
Less Frequent
ANXIETY ,CONFUSION ,DRY MOUTH ,FACIAL FLUSHING ,,HEADACHE NERVOUSNESS ,SKIN RASH ,VASODILATION ,
Rare or Very Rare
BACKACHE ,BRADYCARDIA severe ,CANKER SORE ,DIZZINESS ,DROWSINESS ,DRY SKIN, FLATULENCE ,GASTROINTESTINAL DISTRESS ,HEARTBURN ,INSOMNIA ,LEG CRAMPS ,NAUSEA ,VISUAL FIELD DEFECT ,WEAKNESS
Drug Disease Contraindications from First DataBank
• Urinary Retention
• Acute Renal Disease
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Angina Pectoris
• Severe Uncontrolled Hypertension
• Thyrotoxicosis
• Pheochromocytoma
Lactation Precautions
PRECAUTION
• NO DATA AVAILABLE.
• EFFECT ON THE INFANT IS UNKNOWN
Pregnancy Precautions
ANIMAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN ADVERSE EFFECT ON FETUS BUT NO WELL-CONTROLLED STUDIES IN HUMANS: POTENTIAL BENEFITS MAY WARRANT USE IN PREGNANT WOMEN DESPITE POTENTIAL RISKS; OR NO ANIMAL REPRODUCTION STUDIES AND NO ADEQUATE AND WELL-CONTROLLED STUDIES IN HUMANS.
Preparations
Midodrine Hydrochlorider
Oral
ProAmatine® (scored),Tablets
2.5 mg, 5 mg
Midodrine
- Midodrine hydrochloride is used in the management of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension; the drug is designated an orphan drug by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for such use.
- Midodrine should be used only after nondrug therapies (e.g., support hose, increased sodium intake, life-style modifications) and fluid expansion have failed.
- Clinical studies indicate that midodrine is more effective than placebo and at least as effective as ephedrine, fludrocortisone, or dihydroergotamine in the management of orthostatic hypotension. However, despite comparable increases in blood pressure, midodrine may be more effective than comparative drugs (e.g., ephedrine) in managing postural symptoms.Midodrine increases supine, sitting, and standing diastolic and systolic blood pressures, and may attenuate postural symptoms (e.g., dizziness, lightheadedness, syncope, impaired ability to stand).
- In several clinical studies, midodrine decreased supine and standing pulse rates in patients with orthostatic hypotension; however, the manufacturer states that clinically important changes in pulse rates generally do not occur in patients with impaired autonomic function receiving the drug.
- There is some evidence that efficacy of midodrine is related to autonomic function; patients with less severe autonomic dysfunction may benefit from midodrine therapy to a greater extent than those with severe autonomic dysfunction.The most potentially serious adverse effect of midodrine is supine hypertension (systolic blood pressure of 180 mm Hg or higher), reported in up to 25% of patients receiving the usual dosage (10 mg 3 times daily)of midodrine hydrochloride and in up to 50% of patients receiving 20-mg doses of the drug in clinical studies.
- Patients should be advised to report promptly to their clinician symptoms of supine hypertension (e.g., cardiac awareness, pounding in the ears, headache, blurred vision). If supine hypertension occurs, the dosage of midodrine may be reduced;withdrawal of the drug may be necessary, particularly if supine hypertension persists.
- Sleeping with the head of the bed elevated may relieve supine hypertension in some patients.Concomitant use of midodrine and some vasoconstricting agents (e.g., phenylephrine, ephedrine, dihydroergotamine, phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine) may cause an exaggerated hypertensive response.
- Patients receiving midodrine concomitantly with a vasoconstricting agent should be observed for possible additive hypertensive effects.Although midodrine used concomitantly with fludrocortisone (with or without sodium supplementation) appears to be well tolerated, patients should be monitored closely for supine hypertension during combination therapy.
- In addition, caution should be exercised in patients with ocular conditions when midodrine is used concomitantly with fludrocortisone (which can increase intraocular pressure and precipitate or aggravate glaucoma).
- Concomitant use of midodrine and agents that can cause bradycardia (e.g., cardiac glycosides, β-adrenergic blocking agents) may cause an exaggerated bradycardic response.
- Patients receiving midodrine concomitantly with such agents should be observed for possible additive bradycardic effects.
- The manufacturer states that midodrine also should be used with caution in patients with diabetes mellitus and in patients with a history of urinary retention.
Dosage and Administration
Administration
Midodrine hydrochloride is administered orally, usually in 3 equally divided doses daily. Since food does not appear to affect GI absorption of midodrine hydrochloride, the drug generally can be administered without regard to meals.
Dosage
Safety and efficacy of midodrine hydrochloride in children younger than 18 years of age have not been established. The manufacturer states that midodrine hydrochloride dosage adjustment based solely on age is not necessary in geriatric patients. Dosage adjustment based solely on gender also is not necessary.
Dosage in Renal and Hepatic Impairment
The manufacturer recommends that renal function be assessed prior to initiating midodrine therapy.Because the drug’s active metabolite (desglymidodrine) is eliminated by renal excretion and because safety and efficacy have not been studied systematically in patients with renal impairment to date, the manufacturer states that midodrine should be dosed cautiously in patients with abnormal renal function.The manufacturer recommends that midodrine hydrochloride therapy be initiated with 2.5-mg doses in such adults. Desglymidodrine is dialyzable.Midodrine has not been studied systematically in patients with hepatic impairment, and the effect of alterations in hepatic function on the disposition of the drug currently is not known.Therefore, while the manufacturer currently makes no specific recommendations for dosage adjustment in patients with hepatic impairment, midodrine should be used with caution in such patients.
Description
Midodrine is a synthetic sympathomimetic amine that is structurally similar to methoxamine. Midodrine is a prodrug and has little pharmacologic activity until metabolized to desglymidodrine .Desglymidodrine is a relatively long-acting α1-selective adrenergic agonistthat acts almost exclusively by a direct effect on peripheral α-adrenergic receptors of the arterial and venous vasculature, increasing vascular tone.Total peripheral resistance is increased,resulting in increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Standing blood pressure is increased by about 10–30 mm Hg 1 hour after a 10-mg dose of midodrine hydrochloride in patients with orthostatic hypotension, with some effect persisting for 2–3 hours;a 10-mg dose of the drug produces only modest elevations in supine and standing blood pressure in healthy individuals. Some evidence suggests that midodrine’s efficacy in improving standing blood pressure also may result in part from increased body weight during therapy with the drug, presumably secondary to expansion of extracellular fluid volume.Unlike most vasopressors, midodrine has virtually no stimulant effect on β-adrenergic receptors, including those of the heart. In addition, because desglymidodrine crosses the blood-brain barrier poorly, the drug generally does not appear to produce appreciable CNS stimulation. Because midodrine stimulates the trigone and sphincter of the urinary bladder, symptoms of urinary urgency can occur.The drug also stimulates pilomotor muscles, resulting in pilomotor effects (e.g., goose bumps, sensation of hair standing on end),and contracts the radial muscle of the iris, resulting in pupillary dilation. For additional information on this drug until a more detailed monograph is developed and published, the manufacturer’s labeling should be consulted. It is essential that the labeling be consulted for detailed information on the usual cautions, precautions, and contraindications.
Adverse Effects List from First Databank
More Frequent
BURNING,ITCHING,PRICKLING OF SCALP, CHILLS, HYPERTENSION (severe), SUPINE HYPERTENSION (severe), URINARY FREQUENCY, URINARY RETENTION
Less Frequent
ANXIETY ,CONFUSION ,DRY MOUTH ,FACIAL FLUSHING ,,HEADACHE NERVOUSNESS ,SKIN RASH ,VASODILATION ,
Rare or Very Rare
BACKACHE ,BRADYCARDIA severe ,CANKER SORE ,DIZZINESS ,DROWSINESS ,DRY SKIN, FLATULENCE ,GASTROINTESTINAL DISTRESS ,HEARTBURN ,INSOMNIA ,LEG CRAMPS ,NAUSEA ,VISUAL FIELD DEFECT ,WEAKNESS
Drug Disease Contraindications from First DataBank
• Urinary Retention
• Acute Renal Disease
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Angina Pectoris
• Severe Uncontrolled Hypertension
• Thyrotoxicosis
• Pheochromocytoma
Lactation Precautions
PRECAUTION
• NO DATA AVAILABLE.
• EFFECT ON THE INFANT IS UNKNOWN
Pregnancy Precautions
ANIMAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN ADVERSE EFFECT ON FETUS BUT NO WELL-CONTROLLED STUDIES IN HUMANS: POTENTIAL BENEFITS MAY WARRANT USE IN PREGNANT WOMEN DESPITE POTENTIAL RISKS; OR NO ANIMAL REPRODUCTION STUDIES AND NO ADEQUATE AND WELL-CONTROLLED STUDIES IN HUMANS.
Preparations
Midodrine Hydrochlorider
Oral
ProAmatine® (scored),Tablets
2.5 mg, 5 mg
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