How to Pronounce Midodrine
Midodrine is pronounced as "MY-doh-dreen".
Midodrine is an oral, peripherally acting alpha-1-adrenergic agonist medication that is primarily used for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension 1. It is important for healthcare providers to pronounce medication names correctly when communicating with patients and colleagues to ensure clarity and prevent medication errors.
Clinical Uses of Midodrine
While not directly related to pronunciation, understanding the clinical context of midodrine can be helpful:
- Midodrine is FDA-approved for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension 1
- It is also used in dialysis patients to prevent intradialytic hypotension (IDH) by maintaining central blood volume and cardiac output 2
- In patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites, midodrine may help improve ascites control 2
- It works by causing peripheral vasoconstriction through alpha-1 receptor stimulation 3
Pharmacology
- Midodrine is a prodrug that undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis to its active metabolite, desglymidodrine 1
- The active metabolite is a selective alpha-1-adrenoceptor agonist 4
- It has minimal cardiac and central nervous system effects due to its specificity for peripheral receptors 2
- It does not cross the blood-brain barrier 2
Common Side Effects
- Piloerection (goosebumps) 2
- Scalp itching or tingling 2
- Nausea and heartburn 2
- Urinary urgency or retention 2
- Headache and nervousness 2
- Sleep disturbance 2
- Supine hypertension (in <10% of patients with long-term use) 2
- Bradycardia due to reflex parasympathetic stimulation 2
- Rarely, nightmares have been reported 5
Clinical Pearls
- When used for orthostatic hypotension, the final daily dose should be taken at least 4 hours before bedtime to reduce the risk of supine hypertension 1
- In dialysis patients, midodrine is effectively cleared by hemodialysis with a reduced half-life of 1.4 hours 2
- Caution should be exercised when using midodrine in patients with congestive heart failure or those taking other negative chronotropic agents 2
- Midodrine should not be used concurrently with other alpha-adrenergic agents as this may aggravate supine hypertension 2
- In patients with spinal cord injury who void spontaneously, midodrine may cause progressive urinary retention 6