Hi there,
Wondered if anyone else has had experiences of being put on Methyldopa for high blood pressure/pre-eclampsia? I had it at 35 wks with my first pregnancy and am 35 weeks now with baby number 2. BP crept up a bit last week but generally 130s/80s with just a couple of higher readings. Dr whacked me on a high dose (4 times a day 250mg). I remember not getting on too well with it last time but it seems to have been even worse this time - feeling v low, sleepy, lethargic, drowsy to the extent of not feeling safe to drive, and more tearfulness. Obviously I know you feel tired and tearful in late pregnancy but its like these things have been magnified. Looking on the internet these side effects seem quite commonly experienced.
After the first day of taking it I noticed a mark reduction in baby's movements so went into DAU. The midwife commented that it looked like the dr had been very over cautious putting me on the meds given my BP readings. The sonographer was also surprised at the dosage. I spoke to the dr after and she reduced the dosage by half. (the sonographer said that they know if can reduce baby's movements but is safe - very encouraging!).
Had another scheduled check at DAU today - the meds have brought BP down well but have really been struggling with them and its making looking after my 3yr old quite hard. Asked to speak to the dr today whilst I was at DAU, just to enquire if there was any alternative medication, and if not to weigh up the risks and benefits, obviously want to put baby's safety first. She was quite unsympathetic (embarrassingly when I was talking to her about it I started crying a bit) and asked if I'd like to see a psychiatric nurse! I tried to explain that I had only been feeling this way since starting the meds and thought it was a side effect and she said it was unlikely I would have side effects on the dose I was on. There isn't really an alternative apparently so through my slight weeping I said it was fine, I'd manage. In the end though she said we would stop the meds as long as my BP can be checked every day by the GP for the next 5 days.
I think this is a good outcome, but I'm left feeling a bit like the dr thought that
(a) I'm a bit mental and need to see a psychiatrist
(b) it's all in my mind
Surely it was reasonable to report to them the side effects I was feeling and to want to discuss the best way forward?
Hate being made to feel like a neurotic time waster!