Midodrine and Chills: What Users Say

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2020

For Hypotension "I suffer from both hypotension (70/40 on a good day) and chronic fatigue syndrome. I needed to get surgery on an unrelated issue, and we were worried about my blood pressure. So my doctor decided to try midodrine 10 mg, up to 3 times a day. Without exaggeration, this saved my life. I can now not only sit up but stand without passing out. Furthermore, I can stay awake like then 3 hours a day. Does this give me chills and goosebumps? Yes. But my goodness, I have my life back. I'll take the goosebumps and wear a sweater."

• Lau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 23, 2024

For Hypotension "I have orthostatic hypotension, and midodrine has given me my energy back. I can do household chores and hygiene tasks far more easily, and my thinking is clearer as well. Whenever my dose was increased to get me to my current level, I experienced some chills and scalp tingling for two weeks, and then that side effect disappeared. I’ve had no other side effects. I do take it 4 times a day because of the relatively short effectiveness."

• POT...
• October 1, 2010

Midodrine for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "Didn't seem to lower my heart rate very much, except when I tried to walk around in physical therapy class. Then it caused a severe drop in my heart rate, from about 95 in the relaxed sitting position to below the 50s when I walked a few yards. Bradycardia is a documented side effect, and unfortunately, one I suffered from. Also had lots of goosebumps, tingling scalp, chills, and flushing throughout the day. I'm not totally knocking it, because I know it works for some POTS patients, but it wasn't the medicine for me."

• can...
• June 22, 2017

For Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "I get seizures with allergic reactions from mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), but I didn't when I first took this drug in 2016. Lots of goosebumps, tingling, tight scalp, chills, shivering, and felt like a zombie, though. Became a different person-dissociated, honestly. That'd never happened to me before, was so afraid. Doctor made me try again, seized the entire time, and the tingling burned so bad it felt like I was on fire. Got bradycardic within 2 hours of taking it, too. I get brady sometimes as it is (my heart rate was at 30 the other day), so this medication wasn't a good idea in the first place. Bad call on my doctor's part and bad call on mine for even listening to him."

• can...
• June 22, 2017

For Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "I get seizures with allergic reactions from mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), but I didn't when I first took this drug in 2016. Lots of goosebumps, tingling, tight scalp, chills, shivering, and felt like a zombie, though. Became a different person-dissociated, honestly. That'd never happened to me before, was so afraid. Doctor made me try again, seized the entire time, and the tingling burned so bad it felt like I was on fire. Got bradycardic within 2 hours of taking it, too. I get brady sometimes as it is (my heart rate was at 30 the other day), so this medication wasn't a good idea in the first place. Bad call on my doctor's part and bad call on mine for even listening to him."

• Lsi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2021

For Hypotension "I was prescribed this for my low blood pressure. I was hoping it would work (which it did not). I tried it, and it gave me such bad chills, a prickling sensation, and goosebumps all over my body for several hours straight, up to almost 10 hours. My dose was 5 mg TID (three times a day). It made my nerve damage worse by making it hurt and have a pinching sensation. For the side effects, it was not worth it, even if there was a chance it would have worked, I still would not have taken this drug. It was awful, and I felt like I was being tortured. It was horrendous and up there with the most painful and yuckiest side effects one could experience from a drug. I am lost and have tried more pills, salt, and compression stockings. I am currently waiting for my insurance to approve another drug that is supposed to help with increasing my blood pressure, but I'm not having luck. Until then, I have to deal with the lows and being symptomatic sometimes, which is fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, or near passing out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2021

For Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "My 19-year-old with COVID-induced POTS tried taking midodrine, and the side effects were not tolerable. One issue is she was freezing cold with goosebumps all over, and they were painful, like a stinging feeling. She only took it for a week, and then we stopped it."