"Dopegit" during pregnancy: instructions for use

If the expectant mother has headaches, nausea, dizziness, and other uncomfortable symptoms, this may indicate an increase in blood pressure. Such a state is dangerous not only for the woman herself, but also for the little one. Due to the narrowing of blood vessels, the fetus lacks useful nutrients and oxygen, which may affect its development. If the high pressure is not stabilized in time, the development of a hypertensive crisis and such a serious complication of pregnancy as gestosis are possible.

To prevent a similar situation, doctors prescribe future moms. drugs that can normalize blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications. One of them is "Dopegit". Such a drug began to be used in obstetrics more than 50 years ago and, according to the doctors, during the entire period the drug did not show any teratogenic properties, therefore in most cases when it is detected in pregnant arterial hypertension it is prescribed.

On the contrary, studies have confirmed that treatment with "Dopegitom" helped prevent complications in childbirth, and the children who were born to the women who took this medicine felt better than the babies, whose mothers refused to take Dopegita.

"Dopegit" is a Hungarian medicine from the group of antihypertensive drugs that have a central effect. It comes in the form of tablets, which are sold in brown glass bottles of 50 pieces. They have a grayish-white color and a flat round shape, there is not any particular smell or taste, and on one side there is an engraving “DOPEGYT”.

The effect of such pills on the human body is due to ingredient called "methyldopa". Its dosage per tablet is 250 mg. Additionally, the composition of the funds included substances that create a dense texture. These are ethylcellulose, stearic acid, corn starch and some other compounds.

To buy medicine at the pharmacy need a prescription from the doctor. The average price of one bottle of "Dopegita" is 200 rubles. Store the tool at home should be hidden from small children. The recommended storage temperature is not higher than 25 degrees Celsius, and the shelf life of such tablets is 5 years.

Methyldopa has an effect on alpha-2 adrenoreceptors located in the brain. Due to this, “Dopegit” reduces sympathetic tone, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure, but does not impair the functioning of the heart. In addition, the active substance of tablets replaces dopamine, which is produced in the patient's body by binding to dopamine receptors.

Another mechanism of the hypotensive effect of such a drug is to reduce the activity of renin, an enzyme important for the regulation of blood pressure parameters.In addition, methyldopa inhibits an enzyme called "dopa-decarboxylase", as a result of which the concentrations of such biologically active compounds as adrenaline, serotonin and norepinephrine begin to decrease.

The direct effect of Dopegita on the heart is absent, therefore, taking such pills does not provoke a reflex increase in heartbeat and does not affect cardiac output. The drug also has no adverse effect on the blood flow in the kidneys, so it does not impair glomerular filtration. After taking the pill, its maximum effect is noted after 4-6 hours, and the duration of the therapeutic effect is from 12 to 24 hours.

Since “Dopegit” is an antihypertensive drug, the main indication for its use, including during childbirth, is elevated blood pressure. Typically, the tool is well tolerated, which causes its frequent appointment to expectant mothers. This also contributes to the absence of toxic effects on the fetus and a small list of contraindications.

In later periods, such a drug is prescribed for hypertension, which is one of the signs of preeclampsia. In addition to high pressure, in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, pregnant women can detect a large amount of protein in the urine and other signs of such a dangerous complication. In such situations, "Dopegit" apply to normalize pressure and restore normal blood circulation through the placenta.

As for the early terms, then “Dopegita” in the first trimester is required if the woman's blood pressure was high even before conception. In this case, the indicators should be monitored during the entire gestation period, which necessitates the use of antihypertensive drugs even in the first trimester. And "Dopegit" is suitable for this as well as possible, since it is one of the few drugs for lowering pressure that do not affect the development of the embryo.

Treatment with Dopegitum is prohibited if the future mother has revealed:

• severe liver disease;
• hemolytic anemia;
• depression;
• pheochromocytoma;
• hypersensitivity to the components of the tablets;
• myocardial infarction.

In case of kidney diseases affecting their function, the dosage of Dopegit is reduced depending on the degree of renal failure.

The pills have a side sedative effect. In addition, many women react to “Dopegit” with rapid fatigue, general weakness, and headaches. Such side effects usually occur at the beginning of treatment and with an increase in daily dosage. As a rule, they pass as soon as the body adapts to this medicine.

Among the rare adverse events provoked by Dopegitom, edema, diarrhea, anemia, flatulence, jaundice, fever, nausea, sleep disorders, paresthesia, pain in the joints, allergic symptoms, etc. are noted. When they appear, you need to consult a doctor and cancel taking pills.

To lower the pressure, you can drink “Dopegit” both before meals (most often tablets are taken for half an hour) or after meals. The regimen of such a means is chosen individually. As a rule, treatment begins with 1 tablet, which is taken twice or thrice a day. Next, the doctor assesses the reaction of the body of the future mother and either gradually increases the dosage or reduces it if the pressure has decreased more than is required.

The change in dosage is carried out at intervals of at least two days so that the drug has time to show its effect. At higher doses, first increase the number of pills that are taken in the evening. This will smooth out the possible side effect of sedation, which is often observed in the first days of treatment and with increasing dosage.

Supporting dosage "Dopegita" may be from two to eight tablets per day, which they drink in 2-4 doses. The maximum daily dose of this medication is 12 tablets, which corresponds to 3 grams of the active substance.

Those who took "Dopegit" during the childbearing of the baby women speak about this medicine mostly positively. They confirm the effectiveness of such tablets at elevated pressure, calling their action mild and long-lasting. According to pregnant women, this medicine helps to bring the pressure back to normal, soothes, eliminates nausea and other uncomfortable signs of hypertension.

As for the shortcomings, many expectant mothers notice the appearance of headaches, drowsiness and dizziness in the first days of taking the pills, but after normalization of pressure, these symptoms disappeared without requiring the drug to be canceled. Another disadvantage is the gradual development of addiction, which, after a few months of taking Dopegit, had to be supplemented with other medications.

If a woman in a position for one reason or another cannot take Dopegit, the doctor will replace this drug with another medicine with antihypertensive effect, because high blood pressure in the absence of adequate treatment can harm both the expectant mother and the infant developing in her womb. Complications include hypertensive crisis, myocardial infarction, kidney damage, visual impairment, CNS pathology, and other dangerous conditions.

Among antihypertensives drugs can be called "Moxarel", "Egilok", "Verapamil", "Hypothiazide", "Nifedipine", "Amlodipine", "Doxazosin", "Bisoprolol". Almost all of them are used during pregnancy is limited - not recommended in the first trimester, and in the later periods are used only in situations where hypertension poses a greater threat to the life of the mother and the development of the baby.

In addition to antihypertensive drugs, expectant mothers can be prescribed magnesium supplements, soothing herbal remedies, microcirculation preparations, Papaverin, vitamin complexes.

It is desirable to include in the diet of the future mother beets, low-fat meat dishes, cottage cheese, cheeses, eggs, legumes, a variety of vegetables and fruits. In addition, a pregnant woman should consult with a doctor about a rational drinking regimen, since it is also important for normalizing blood pressure indicators. It is also important to avoid stress, walk more often, do not linger long in one place, regularly air the room, exclude significant physical exertion.