Ethyl methyldopate hydrochloride

Uses

Ethyl methyldopate hydrochloride is Antihypertensive.

brand name

Aldomet (Merck).

General Description

Methyldopatehydrochloride, L-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-methylalanineethyl ester hydrochloride (Aldomet ester hydrochloride), α-methyldopa, lowers blood pressure by inhibitingthe outflow of sympathetic vasoconstrictor impulses fromthe brain. Early studies had suggested that the hypotensiveaction of α-methyldopa was a result of the peripheral propertiesof the drug as a decarboxylase inhibitor or a falsetransmitter.

Clinical Use

Ethyl methyldopate hydrochloride is used as a step 2 agent and is recommendedfor patients with high blood pressure who are not responsiveto diuretic therapy alone. Ethyl methyldopate hydrochloride, suitable for oral use,is a zwitterion and is not soluble enough for parenteral use.The problem was solved by making the ester, leaving theamine free to form the water-soluble hydrochloride salt. It issupplied as a stable, buffered solution, protected with antioxidantsand chelating agents.