Lily Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Can anyone here help me out with specifics about how and where Methyldopa works?I have POTS with blood pooling and hyperandrenergic components (and NMS). I also have ADHD. I take Strattera for that, and it is a NE retake inhibitor. Works very well for my ADHD, especially in combination with fish oil. My tilt table test was done Strattera-free for 1 day. Yes, it takes 3-4 days to completely clear from the body of a normal metabolizer, but cardiologist knows this and said 1 day was enough. Plasma NE was 1962 standing, not measured supine. Cardiologist and neurologist both insist that the brain can be deficient in NE (and hence ADHD) and my body concurrently be producing too much. They also both believe that the Strattera is not causing POTS.Atenolol made me depressed, so cardiologist suggested Methyldopa as having lower potential to cause problems than Clonidine. So far it seems to be helping a little (not getting so tired as quickly), but I've only been on it for a few days. Now the question:Does the Methyldopa work in the brain or in the body? If in the brain, will it cancel out the Strattera and make my ADHD worse? Why or why not? So far it doesn't seem to be doing that, but if it is a false neurotransmitter, maybe it needs time to build up to full action? I would like to understand better, but I'm not sure where to go to learn more without taking on a full class about the nervous system. I need to spend my time preparing my own classes to teach instead (sedimentology)! Can anyone help me out here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
statesof Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Yes this drug works in your brain. From reading the Wikipedia page, it is supposed to inhibit your sympathetic nervous system which works similair to clonodine, but also inhibits production of norepinephrine/ epinephrine so maybe that is what helps the hyperadreniergic side of your POTS. It looks like this drug has the opposite effect on dopamine transmitters in your brain than your ADD meds would, I'd obviously ask your doctors about this though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 Methyldopa basically does the opposite of what adhd meds do for central blood pressure medication. Assuming it wont effect central dopamine but who knows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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