Dementia Induced by Methyldopa with Haloperidol

Abstract

Methyldopa, a frequently employed antihypertensive agent, has been shown to deplete the central nervous system of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.^{1 , 2} Among its Central-nervous-system side effects are excessive sedation,^{3 , 4} extrapyramidal reactions,⁵ depressions,^{6 7 8 9} and dementia.¹⁰ Chouinard et al. have reported the potentiation of haloperidol sedation by methyldopa in agitated and psychotic patients.¹¹ A therapeutic benefit from a methyldopa-haloperidol combination in a psychiatric population was predicted because both agents are thought to prevent dopamine from reaching its central neurotransmitter receptor. Similar logic evokes a concern that a nonpsychiatric population may be rendered susceptible to unwanted mental effects of methyldopa when it is combined . . .