Orthostatic hypotension occurs when blood pressure drops rapidly upon standing. It can result in dizziness, light-headedness or fainting.
Recent finding: Patients with orthostatic hypotension who took pyridostigmine (Mestinon), either alone or with midodrine (ProAmatine), another medication used to treat low blood pressure, had a smaller drop in standing blood pressure than when they took a placebo.
Bonus: Unlike midodrine, pyridostigmine did not increase blood pressure when patients were lying down. In rare cases, pyridostigmine can cause digestive upset and diarrhea.
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