Midodrine and Goosebumps: What Users Say

• HS0...
• August 13, 2014

Midodrine for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "I take 10mg midodrine three times a day for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It has changed my life completely. I'm able to be active and do all the things I used to avoid. I go to concerts, movies on opening night, and shopping at places with long lines. I can date without worrying about whether we're going somewhere that I'll need to stand still. There are side effects - weird sensations and goosebumps mostly. The benefit far outweighs any negative effects or risks."

• Lif...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 17, 2023

For Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "Midodrine gave me my life back when I was ready to give up. I'm a 33-year-old woman and take 5 mg three times per day, and now I can think clearly, stand up without having to brace myself to prevent fainting. I can stand through 95% of my showers now (was sitting most of the time before). I can walk (even up stairs) at a normal pace without getting completely out of breath. My chronic fatigue and brain fog have dramatically improved. I don't feel the blood draining out of my arms when I lift them above my heart or feel blood pooling in my feet anymore. Even my hair started growing again, and my acne has improved. This has literally been life-changing for me! My body feels a level of peace I've never experienced before. I never got any of the negative side effects others talk about, like goosebumps or tingles. However, the first 3 days on this, I felt really weird and almost quit, but I'm glad I pushed past that and adjusted. I will never be without Midodrine again. It makes life worth living."

• 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."

• 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."

• Mar...
• February 1, 2012

For Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "Goosebumps on arms, legs, chest, and back; scalp tingling. Reduced my POTS episodes to one or two a month. Wish it were a once-a-day pill instead of every four hours. I take it early morning, lunch, and late afternoon."

• 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."

• Ln2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2020

For Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "Not the drug for me personally. Suffered with POTS for 10+ years, now starting new medicines for it. I was prescribed 10 mg Midodrine to start. No improvement of POTS symptoms and was on it for about a month. No negative symptoms other than goosebumps at first, but after about a month on it, my blood pressure started shooting up and I felt super sick from it. I had high hopes because it helps so many people, but it just wasn't for me."

• sim...
• December 20, 2009

Midodrine for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome "Rash, goosebumps even when hot, odd blood pressure swings, scalp tingling, and other problems. Was taken off it fairly quickly."