Drug interactions
Iron + Methyldopa
Severity: Moderate
Iron and Methyldopa: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Oral iron salts can lower methyldopa absorption and reduce its blood pressure effect. Reduced antihypertensive control has been documented with ferrous sulfate.
What this interaction means in plain words
Iron and Methyldopa can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Iron belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Methyldopa belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Iron likely chelates methyldopa in the gut, decreasing its absorption.
What to do
Separate doses by at least 2 hours and monitor blood pressure when iron is started or stopped. Increase the methyldopa dose if control is lost.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Iron
- Acetohydroxamic acid + Iron Moderate
- Aluminum hydroxide + Iron Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Iron Moderate
- Calcium acetate + Iron Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Iron Moderate
- Calcium citrate + Iron Moderate
Other interactions of Methyldopa
- Methyldopa + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Iobenguane i + Methyldopa Major
- Lofexidine + Methyldopa Major
- Methyldopa + Pexidartinib Major
- Methyldopa + Pretomanid Major
- Methyldopa + Thioridazine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Iron with Methyldopa?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Iron and Methyldopa can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Oral iron salts can lower methyldopa absorption and reduce its blood pressure effect. Reduced antihypertensive control has been documented with ferrous sulfate.
How serious is the interaction between Iron and Methyldopa?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Separate doses by at least 2 hours and monitor blood pressure when iron is started or stopped. Increase the methyldopa dose if control is lost.
What other medicines interact with Iron?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Iron with, for example, Acetohydroxamic acid, Aluminum hydroxide, Baloxavir marboxil. The full list is on the Iron page.
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