Talk:Methyldopa

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Methyldopa, in its active metabolite form, leads to increased alfa-2 receptor-mediated inhibition of SNS (centrally and peripherally), allowing PSNS tone to increase. Such activity leads to a decrease in Total Peripheral Resistance (TPR) and Cardiac Output (C.O.).

All drugs in this class can cause rebound hypertension due to an up-regulation of alfa-2 receptors while under the influence of the drug. If the drug is abruptly withdrawan, the "original" as well as "new" receptors become available and cause a severe reaction to the "normal" SNS activity (which is usually in excess). In other words, the SNS typically releases more NE than is needed to activate receptors (leading to a sustained response), and extra receptors leads to an over-response (in this case mediated by alfa-2 receptors leading to vascular smooth muscle CONSTRICTION = rebound hypertension). (That's bad.)

[edit] External Links

http://merck-information.com/html/aldomet.html is a legitimate link to one of the manufactures websites, not vandalism or link spam. AA Milne 21:06, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

As directly stated on merck-information.com:

Please note that http://www.merck-information.com is in no way affiliated with Merck® & Co., inc. or any of its affiliates.

Meaning it is not a legitimate link to one of the manufacturer's websites. Sorry to insist, but spamming (especially sneaky spamming by anons) bugs me. Fvasconcellos 21:17, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WikiProject class rating

This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as stub, and the rating on other projects was brought up to Stub class. BetacommandBot 16:30, 10 November 2007 (UTC)