Methyldopa

Q: Anti-hypertensive drug methyldopa is prone to cause? (select one)

A) Sinus Tachycardia
B) Sinus Bradycardia


Answer: B

Being sympatholytic drug methyldopa tends to cause sinus bradycardia. Clinically this may become significant if other sympatholytic drugs i.e beta blockers or clonidine are used concomitantly. Moreover, methyldopa can cause directly sinus node dysfunction resulting in sinus bradycardia.

#pharmacology
#cardiology
#hemodynamic


References:

1. van Zwieten PA, Thoolen MJ, Timmermans PB. The hypotensive activity and side effects of methyldopa, clonidine, and guanfacine. Hypertension. 1984 Sep-Oct;6(5 Pt 2):II28-33. 

2. Jesse C. Davis, MD; James A. Reiffel, MD; J. Thomas Bigger Jr, MD Sinus Node Dysfunction Caused by Methyldopa and Digoxin JAMA. 1981;245(12):1241-1243.