Midodrine oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

This article describes midodrine oral tablet’s dosage and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for midodrine. If you want to know more about midodrine oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Midodrine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Orvaten.

Boxed warning: Risk of high blood pressure when lying down

Midodrine has a boxed warning for the risk of high blood pressure when lying down. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

See the end of this article for more information about this warning.

Form and strengths of midodrine

Midodrine oral tablet comes as follows:

• Form: tablet that you swallow
• Strengths: 2.5 milligrams (mg), 5 mg, 10 mg

Dosage of midodrine

This article describes the recommended dosage for midodrine oral tablet. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of midodrine oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

Usual recommended dosages of midodrine in adults

The recommended dosage of midodrine oral tablet for orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure upon standing up) is:

• Dose: 10 milligrams (mg)
• Frequency: three times per day

Dosage adjustments for midodrine

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of midodrine oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
• your age
• other health conditions you may have
• other medications you may take

Missed dose of midodrine

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of midodrine oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of midodrine oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about midodrine oral tablet and its dosage.

Can midodrine be used for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)? If so, what is the dosage?

Possibly. But midodrine is not approved to treat postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). It’s approved to treat symptoms of orthostatic hypotension.

People with POTS tend to feel lightheaded or dizzy when they stand up from a sitting position. Along with these symptoms, they also experience a rapid increase in their heart rate.

People with orthostatic hypotension experience a sudden drop in blood pressure when they stand up. In severe cases, it can cause a person to faint.

In some cases, doctors may prescribe midodrine oral tablet off label for POTS or other conditions. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

If you have questions about treatment options for POTS, talk with your doctor.

Is midodrine taken long term?

Yes, doctors typically prescribe midodrine oral tablet as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

If you have questions about how long you should take midodrine oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

How midodrine is taken

You’ll swallow midodrine oral tablet three times per day during usual waking hours. The drug should be taken while you are upright and performing daily activities.

You can take the drug with or without food. But be sure to take your doses at least 3 hours apart. Take the last dose of the day at least 4 hours before bedtime. If it is taken too close to bedtime, you increase your risk of having high blood pressure while lying down.*

Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.

The drugmaker has not made any recommendations on whether midodrine oral tablet can be cut or crushed. Swallow the tablets whole. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.

* Midodrine has a boxed warning for the risk of high blood pressure when lying down. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). See the end of this article for more information about this warning.

Midodrine coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for midodrine when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.

Overdose of midodrine

It’s important that you do not take more midodrine oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of midodrine overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• high blood pressure
• goosebumps
• difficulty emptying your bladder

What to do if you take too much midodrine

If you think you’ve taken too much midodrine, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosage for midodrine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of midodrine oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take midodrine oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Will a higher dosage of midodrine oral tablet increase my risk of side effects?
• Is it safe to lie down during the day while I’m taking midodrine?
• Will you change my dosage of midodrine if I’m taking other drugs with it?

Boxed warning for midodrine

Midodrine has a boxed warning for the risk of high blood pressure when lying down. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Midodrine can cause dangerous increases in your blood pressure while you’re lying down. Having very high blood pressure increases your risk of heart problems, including stroke.

Because of this risk, you should only take midodrine during your usual waking hours and while you’re upright. And the drug shouldn’t be taken less than 4 hours before bedtime. Your doctor may also recommend that you monitor your blood pressure while you’re taking midodrine.

Symptoms of extremely high blood pressure can include:

• headache
• blurry vision
• racing heart

If you experience any symptoms, check your blood pressure right away. If the first number (systolic blood pressure) is 180 or higher, or the second number (diastolic blood pressure) is 120 or higher, you may be having a hypertensive crisis. This is a medical emergency. If you get a high reading, wait a few minutes and then check your blood pressure again. If you still get a reading that’s above the limits mentioned, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.

You can also talk with your doctor to learn more.

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.