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Athar ZM, Arshad M, Shrivastava S. Exploring the Efficacy of Midodrine for Tapering Off Vasopressors. Cureus 2024; 16:e55192. [PMID: 38558716 PMCID: PMC10981505 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Sepsis and septic shock represent critical conditions, often necessitating vasopressor support in the intensive care unit (ICU). Midodrine, an oral vasopressor, has gathered attention as a potential adjunct to vasopressor therapy, aiming to facilitate weaning and improve clinical outcomes. However, the efficacy of midodrine remains questionable, with conflicting evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses. This article provides a comprehensive review of the literature on midodrine's role in ICU settings by gathering evidence from multicenter trials, retrospective studies, and meta-analyses. While some studies suggest a limited benefit of midodrine in expediting vasopressor weaning and reducing ICU/hospital stays, others report potential advantages, particularly in reducing mortality rates among septic shock patients. Ongoing efforts aim to address knowledge gaps surrounding midodrine's efficacy and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahnoor Arshad
- Internal Medicine, BronxCare Health System, New York, USA
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Costa-Pinto R, Jones DA, Udy AA, Warrillow SJ, Bellomo R. Midodrine use in critically ill patients: a narrative review. CRIT CARE RESUSC 2022; 24:298-308. [PMID: 38047013 PMCID: PMC10692611 DOI: 10.51893/2022.4.r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Midodrine is a peripherally acting, oral α-agonist that is increasingly used in intensive care units despite conflicting evidence for its effectiveness. It has pharmacological effects on blood vessels as well as pupillary, cardiac, renal, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, lymphatic and skin tissue. It has approval for use as a treatment for orthostatic hypotension, but a surge in interest over the past decade has prompted its use for a growing number of off-label indications. In critically ill patients, midodrine has been used as either an adjunctive oral therapy to wean vasoplegic patients off low dose intravenous vasopressor infusions, or as an oral vasopressor agent to prevent or minimise the need for intravenous infusion. Clinical trials have mostly focused on midodrine as an intravenous vasopressor weaning agent. Early retrospective studies supported its use for this indication, but more recent randomised controlled trials have largely refuted this practice. Key questions remain on its role in managing critically ill patients before intensive care admission, during intensive care stay, and following discharge. This narrative review presents a comprehensive overview of midodrine use for the critical care physician and highlights why lingering questions around ideal patient selection, dosing, timing of initiation, and efficacy of midodrine for critically ill patients remain unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Costa-Pinto
- Department of Intensive Care, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Daryl A. Jones
- Department of Intensive Care, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew A. Udy
- Department of Intensive Care, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Warrillow
- Department of Intensive Care, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rinaldo Bellomo
- Department of Intensive Care, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Data Analytics Research and Evaluation Centre, University of Melbourne and Austin Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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