PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - P D Walson
AU  - K S Marshall
AU  - R P Forsyth
AU  - R Rapoport
AU  - K L Melmon
AU  - N Castagnoli, Jr
TI  - Metabolic disposition and cardiovascular effects of methyldopate in unanesthetized rhesus monkeys.
DP  - 1975 Oct 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 151--158
VI  - 195
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/195/1/151.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/195/1/151.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1975 Oct 01; 195
AB  - Methyldopate, the ethyl ester hydrochloride salt of alpha-methyldopa (alpha-MD), is used extensively in the treatment of severe hypertension. We have developed a high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay to determine the plasma-time concentrations of alpha-MD after intravenous administration of methyldopate and alpha-MD in the monkey in an effort to evaluate the bioavailability of alpha-MD and the extent of in vivo hydrolysis of the amino ester to the amino acid. The results establish that in this experimental situation methyldopate is not metabolically equivalent to alpha-MD.