Depression with the Use of Alpha-Methyldopa
WILLIAM T. MCKINNEY JR. M.D.1, and
FRANCIS J. KANE JR. M.D.1
1 Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, N. C. 27514
We have reported a case of depression associated with alpha-methyldopa treatment in which there was a history of prior mood disturbances associated with the use of other drugs which can also alter catecholamine levels. Since most antihypertensive agents depend on the altered metabolism of catecholamines for their action, any such drugs can be expected to produce undesired psychic effects, particularly mood disturbances.
