prazosin

PRAZ-oh-sin

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Minipress

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet


• Capsule

Therapeutic Class: Cardiovascular Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Alpha-1 Adrenergic Blocker

Uses For prazosin

Prazosin is used alone or together with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occur if blood pressure is controlled.

Prazosin belongs to the general class of medicines called antihypertensives. It works by relaxing the blood vessels so that blood passes through them more easily. This helps to lower blood pressure. Prazosin may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

prazosin is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, prazosin is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:

• Benign enlargement of the prostate.


• Congestive heart failure.


• Ergot alkaloid poisoning.


• Pheochromocytoma.


• Raynaud's disease.

For patients taking prazosin for benign enlargement of the prostate:

• Prazosin will not shrink the size of your prostate, but it does help to relieve the symptoms.

Before Using prazosin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For prazosin, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to prazosin or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of prazosin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of prazosin in geriatric patients.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking prazosin, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using prazosin with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Tadalafil

Using prazosin with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acebutolol


• Alprenolol


• Atenolol


• Betaxolol


• Bevantolol


• Bisoprolol


• Bucindolol


• Carteolol


• Carvedilol


• Celiprolol


• Dilevalol


• Esmolol


• Labetalol


• Levobunolol


• Mepindolol


• Metipranolol


• Metoprolol


• Nadolol


• Nebivolol


• Oxprenolol


• Penbutolol


• Pindolol


• Propranolol


• Sildenafil


• Sotalol


• Talinolol


• Tertatolol


• Timolol


• Vardenafil

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of prazosin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Angina (chest pain) or


• Heart disease, severe or


• Postural hypotension (low blood pressure)—Prazosin may make these conditions worse.

• Cataract surgery—An eye problem called Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) has occurred in patients who are taking or who have recently taken prazosin when they are having cataract surgery. You should tell your ophthalmologist (eye doctor) before your surgery if you are taking prazosin.

• Kidney disease—Effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use of prazosin

In addition to the use of prazosin, treatment for your high blood pressure may include weight control and changes in the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium (salt). Your doctor will tell you which of these are most important for you. You should check with your doctor before changing your diet.

Many patients who have high blood pressure will not notice any symptoms of the condition. In fact, many patients may feel normal. It is very important that you take your medicine exactly as directed and that you keep your appointments with your doctor even if you feel well.

Remember that prazosin will not cure your high blood pressure, but it does help control it. You must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down. You may have to take high blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

To help you remember to take your medicine, try to get into the habit of taking it at the same time each day.

Dosing

The dose of prazosin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of prazosin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (capsules or tablets):
  
  • For high blood pressure:
    
    • Adults—At first, 0.5 or 1 milligram (mg) two or three times a day. Then, your doctor will slowly increase your dose to 6 to 15 mg and divided into two or three doses per day. However, the dose is usually not more than 20 mg a day.
    
    
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 50 to 400 micrograms (mcg) (0.05 to 0.4 mg) per kilogram of body weight (22.73 to 181.2 mcg per pound [0.023 to 0.18 mg per pound]) a day. This is divided into two or three doses.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of prazosin, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using prazosin

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that prazosin is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position suddenly. Getting up slowly may help. These symptoms are more likely to occur when you begin taking prazosin, or when the dose is increased.

You may also have dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting if you drink alcohol, stand for a long time, exercise or if the weather is hot. While you are taking prazosin, be careful to limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Also, use extra care during exercise or hot weather.

Prazosin may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to prazosin before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy, drowsy, or are not alert.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using prazosin. prazosin may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

prazosin Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position


• fainting (sudden)

Less common

• Loss of bladder control


• pounding heartbeat


• swelling of the feet or lower legs

Rare

• Chest pain


• painful inappropriate erection of penis (continuing)


• shortness of breath

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Drowsiness


• headache


• lack of energy

Less common

• Dryness of the mouth


• nervousness


• unusual tiredness or weakness

Rare

• Frequent urge to urinate


• nausea

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: prazosin side effects (in more detail)

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More prazosin resources

• Prazosin Side Effects (in more detail)
• Prazosin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Prazosin Drug Interactions
• Prazosin Support Group
• 14 Reviews for Prazosin - Add your own review/rating

• prazosin Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• Prazosin Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Prazosin Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Prazosin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Minipress Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Minipress Monograph (AHFS DI)

Compare prazosin with other medications

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