What is "methyldopa"

n. A psychoactive drug used as a sympatholytic or antihypertensive.

n. antihypertensive drug (trade name Aldomet) used in the treatment of high blood pressure [syn: alpha methyl dopa, Aldomet]

Methyldopa (L-α-Methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine; Aldomet, Aldoril, Dopamet, Dopegyt, etc.) is a centrally acting antihypertensive agent. It is metabolized to alpha-methylnorepinephrine in the brain, and this compound is thought to activate central alpha-2 adrenergic receptors (Gerber, 1990). Being a selective agonist for α adrenergic receptors, psychoactive drug is used as a sympatholytic or antihypertensive. Its use is now mostly deprecated following the introduction of alternative safer classes of agents. However, it continues to have a role in otherwise difficult to treat hypertension and gestational hypertension (previously known as pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)).

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medication needed in a basic health system.