Methyldopa

Methyldopa
Clinical data
Trade names	Aldomet, Aldoril, Dopamet, others
Other names	α-Methyl-L-DOPA; α-Methyl-levodopa; α-Methyl-DOPA; L-α-Methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a682242
License data	US DailyMed: Methyldopa;
Pregnancy; category	AU: A;
Routes of; administration	By mouth, intravenous
ATC code	C02AB01 (WHO) ; C02AB02 (WHO) (racemic);
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only); CA: ℞-only; UK: POM (Prescription only); US: ℞-only;
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	~50%
Metabolism	Liver
Onset of action	4–6 hours
Elimination half-life	105 minutes
Duration of action	10–48 hours
Excretion	Kidney for metabolites
Identifiers
	IUPAC name (S)-2-amino-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl-propanoic acid;
CAS Number	41372-08-1 ; anhydrous: 555-30-6 ;
PubChem CID	38853; anhydrous: 40175;
IUPHAR/BPS	5217;
DrugBank	DB00968 ;
ChemSpider	35562 ;
UNII	56LH93261Y; anhydrous: M4R0H12F6M ;
KEGG	D00405;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL459 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID5023295 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.264
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C10H13NO4
Molar mass	211.217 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES C[C@](N)(Cc1ccc(O)c(O)c1)C(=O)O;
	InChI InChI=1S/C10H13NO4/c1-10(11,9(14)15)5-6-2-3-7(12)8(13)4-6/h2-4,12-13H,5,11H2,1H3,(H,14,15)/t10-/m0/s1 ; Key:CJCSPKMFHVPWAR-JTQLQIEISA-N ;
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Methyldopa, also known as α-methyl-L-DOPA and sold under the brand name Aldomet among others, is a medication used for high blood pressure. It is one of the preferred treatments for high blood pressure in pregnancy. For other types of high blood pressure including very high blood pressure resulting in symptoms other medications are typically preferred. It can be given by mouth or injection into a vein. Onset of effects is around 5 hours and they last about a day.

Common side effects include sleepiness. More severe side effects include red blood cell breakdown, liver problems, and allergic reactions. Methyldopa is in the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist family of medication. It works by stimulating the brain to decrease the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.