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S.K. Robinson, MD

JAMA. 1973;225(10):1247-1248.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

The report on a 51-year-old black woman who died of hepatic necrosis after taking methyldopa (224:1390, 1973) should make us take a hard look at the dangers of antihypertensive drugs. The authors state: "The drug is well tolerated in most cases."

Sheps et al had shown major side effects in 30% and advised against the use of methyldopa.¹ As many as 35% of patients may show liver damage with methyldopa.² Hoyumpa et al³ reported three cases of hepatitis—two were severe and one patient died. Raftos (Med J Aust 2:837, 1967), using methyldopa, had 63 cases of toxic reaction with eight deaths in 14 months, which is every high; two deaths occurred after drug withdrawal. This phenomenon of a cerebrovascular accident shortly after drug withdrawal was observed several times by Hood et al and may be drug-related.⁴ Two thirds had severe side effects consisting of . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Michigan City, Ind

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