Arterial hypertension during pregnancy is, unfortunately, a common phenomenon. With a slight increase in pressure in this case, herbal preparations are usually prescribed, which have a weak sedative and calming effect. With persistent hypertension, there is a need to use more serious pharmacological agents.
For example, with frequent increases in pressure for women bearing a child, doctors can prescribe the drug "Dopegit." During pregnancy, this medicine is prescribed because one of its main features is that, unlike many other drugs with similar therapeutic effects, it has absolutely no negative effect on the fetus.
Release form and composition of the drug
The active ingredient in this medicine is methyldopa sesquihydrate. In one tablet, it usually contains 282 mg. In terms of pure methyldop, this is 250 mg.
Additional components of this tool are:
- magnesium stearate;
- stearic acid;
- corn starch;
- sodium carboxymethyl starch;
- talc;
- ethyl cellulose.
This drug is produced by the pharmacological industry only in the form of ordinary tablets, not coated with any shell. The color of the medicine in this form is light gray. On the back of each tablet is the name of the drug.
What effect does the mother have on the body
To reduce the pressure, “Dopegit”, during pregnancy, among other things, is capable of primarily because getting into the patient’s blood and tissues, its active substance:
- replaces dopamine, responsible for increasing pressure, in the nerve endings;
- due to the stimulation of adrenoreceptors reduces tone;
- reduces the concentration of renin in the blood and reduces vascular resistance;
- reduces the concentration of adrenaline and serotonin in the blood.
The advantages of this tool, in comparison with many analogues, include the fact that it does not directly affect the patient’s heart, does not cause tachycardia and does not negatively affect the kidneys.
How fast it starts to act
In this regard, "Dopegit" is considered a unique drug. Unlike many other drugs designed to lower blood pressure, it does not begin to act immediately.
Patients begin to feel the effect of taking this medicine after about 6 hours. At the same time, Dopegit retains its beneficial effect in the future for about 1-2 days. The patient reaches the peak of his influence on the body with regular admission according to the scheme chosen by the attending physician, for 3 days.
When can I take
Assign Dopegit during pregnancy, usually only in the second and third trimester. In the first, taking this medicine, like any other, even the most harmless, is undesirable. This is due primarily to the fact that in the first trimester the internal organs of the child are formed. And taking any drugs during this period can cause irreversible disorders.
It is not particularly often prescribed in the first weeks of gestation that women “Dopegit” also because pressure increases in expectant mothers during this period quite rarely. In most cases, this problem begins to bother pregnant women from 12 weeks. From this point on, doctors usually prescribe Dopegit to patients.
Indications and contraindications
According to the instructions for use, "Dopegit" during pregnancy is prescribed mainly only with high blood pressure. Numerous studies have shown that it does not have any harmful effects on the fetus. This drug is able to penetrate into breast milk. But prescribing it to nursing women is also allowed.
Of course, this drug, like any other pharmacological agent, has contraindications. The use of "Dopegit" during pregnancy is not allowed if the patient has, for example, problems such as:
- depression;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- hemolytic anemia;
- acute hepatitis or cirrhosis;
- hypersensitivity to the components;
- pheochromocytoma.
This medicine should not be prescribed to patients also if they are treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
"Dopegit" during pregnancy: instructions for use
It is best to take this medication before or after meals. At the beginning of treatment, medication is usually prescribed to patients in a minimal dose. It can be tablets of 250 mg 2-3 times a day. After two days of such initial treatment, the dose of the drug to patients is gradually increased. The standard number of "Dopegita" for pregnant women are 0.5-1.5 g 2-4 times a day. A maximum of 2 g of this medicine can be taken per day.
The course of treatment with the drug "Dopegit" during pregnancy usually lasts 2-3 months. Then the dose of the drug begins to gradually decrease. Since this medicine cannot be abruptly canceled, at the final stage, patients usually take 1 tablet once every 2-3 days. This avoids the shock reaction of the body.
Side effects of the medicine
In some cases, "Dopegit" may have a negative effect on the body of a pregnant woman. In this case, the patient must consult a doctor. Most often, the following side effects from taking "Dopegit" are observed in patients:
- bradycardia, edema, myocarditis;
- headache;
- fatigue, weakness;
- mental disorders, depression, nightmares;
- nasal congestion;
- joint pain
- vomiting, dry mouth.
With an allergic reaction on the patient’s body, urticaria appears. In this case, the drug is replaced with an analogue with another active substance.
Consequences of an overdose
If the patient takes too much of this medication, her blood pressure will drop first. Also, the consequences of an overdose of "Dopegita" are:
- nausea and dizziness;
- retardation;
- intestinal atony;
- constipation.
In case of an overdose, the patient carrying the child should immediately rinse the stomach. This is necessary in order to reduce the amount of drug absorbed into her blood. If necessary, a pregnant woman is also prescribed symptomatic treatment. Unfortunately, the antidote for this medicine by doctors has not been developed.
How does it interact with other medicines?
As already mentioned, this drug is not compatible with MAO inhibitors. Also, Dopegit tablets during pregnancy are prescribed taking into account the fact that:
- its effectiveness decreases while taking it with phenothiazines, antidepressants, sympathomimetics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, iron preparations;
- the medication is able to enhance its effect in complex treatment using antihypertensive drugs, beta-blockers, tranquilizers, anesthetics;
- the drug can increase the toxicity of lithium, and in combination with haloperidol enhances disorientation.
Also, this medicine, unfortunately, increases the risk of bleeding.
"Dopegit" during pregnancy: reviews
The advantages of this remedy are pregnant women with hypertension, primarily, its safety. Judging by the reviews of patients, this effect with elevated blood pressure is rather weak. But it does lower the pressure. At the same time, “Dopegit” is also considered a safer tool than the popular “Klofelin”, which is also often prescribed for women carrying a child from high blood pressure.
To drink "Dopegit" during pregnancy, in the event that it will be prescribed by a gynecologist, many women are advised to necessarily. Moreover, this drug should be taken regularly. The harm due to the increased pressure in the mother for the child can be greater than from this light medicine.
Analogues of the drug
The medicine "Dopegit", thus - is quite harmless. But of course, if necessary, this drug can be replaced with some other drug that also lowers blood pressure. The most popular analogues of "Dopegita" at the moment are:
- Alfadopa
- "Dopanol";
- "Ekibar".
All these drugs can be prescribed for high blood pressure, including pregnant women. The cheap generic Dopegit is Dopanol.