Fore Safe Use

It is important that your family doctor check your progress at regular appointments to make sure that this drug is help you.

Do not take other medication unless they have been discussed with your family doctor . This especially includes over-the-counter - nonprescription medication for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems, since they may tend to increase your blood pressure.

This drug may cause a loss of potassium from your body :

• To help prevent this, your family doctor may want you to:
  • eat or drink foods that have a high potassium content - for example, orange or other citrus fruit juices,
  • take a potassium supplement,
  • take another drug to help prevent the loss of the potassium in the first place.
• The best for you to follow these directions. Always it is important not to change your diet on your own. This is more important if you are already on a special diet - as for diabetes, or if you are taking a potassium supplement or a drug to reduce potassium loss. Extra potassium may not be necessary and, in some cases, too much potassium could be harmful.

Check with your family doctor if you become sick and have severe or continuing vomiting or diarrhea. These problems may cause you to lose additional water and potassium.

Before having any kind of surgery - including dental surgery or emergency treat, tell the family doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this drug.

If you have a fever and there seems to be no reason for it, check with your family doctor . This is especially important during the first few weeks you take this drug since fever may be a sign of a serious reaction to methyldopa.

This drug may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally. This is more likely to happen when you begin to take it or when you increase the amount of drug you are taking Make sure you know how you react to this drug before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert .

Dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help, but if the problem continues or gets worse, check with your family doctor.

The dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting is also more likely to occur if you drink alcohol, stand for long periods of time, exercise, or if the weather is hot. Drinking alcoholic beverages may also make the drowsiness worse While you are taking this drug, be careful in the amount of alcohol you drink . Always use extra care during exercise or hot weather or if you must stand for long periods of time.

For diabetic diseaseds :

• This drug may raise blood sugar levels. While you are using this drug, be especially careful in testing for sugar in your urine. If you have any questions about this, check with your family doctor.

This drug may cause dryness of the mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your family doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the risk of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease and fungus infections.

Thiazide diuretics may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this drug:

• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Always wear sunglasses.
• Apply a sun block product that has a skin protection factor - SPF of at least 15. Some diseaseds may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
• Apply a sun block lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.
• Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the family doctor in charge that you are taking this drug. The results of some tests may be effected by this drug.