Doxazosin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What Drug Doxazosin?

What is the drug Doxazosin used for?

Doxazosin is a drug to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia). This drug does not shrink the prostate, but works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and in the bladder. This medication helps to relieve BPH symptoms such as difficulty urinating, weak urinary flow, and frequent or urgent urination (including during the middle of the night).

Doxazosin belongs to a class of drugs known as alpha blockers. This medicine should not be used to treat high blood pressure.

Doxazosin can also be used to help your body "drain," or get rid of kidney stones through the urine stream. This medication has also been used to help with bladder problems in women.

How do you use the drug Doxazosin?

Take doxazosin as directed by your doctor, usually once daily with breakfast.

Doxazosin can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure that can cause dizziness or fainting, usually within a few hours of use. This risk is higher when you first start using this medicine, after your doctor increases your dose, or if you repeat treatment after you stop using this medicine. During this time, avoid situations where you might get hurt if you pass out.

Do not crush or chew the extended-release tablet. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. Also, do not split tablets unless they have a dividing line and your doctor or pharmacist tells you to do so. Swallow all or part of the tablet without crushing or chewing.

Use this remedy regularly to get its benefits. To help you remember, use it at the same time every day. If you miss a dose of doxazosin for several days, you may need to repeat the treatment with a lower dose and gradually increase the dose again. Consult your doctor for more details.

If you are taking any other form of doxazosin other than this extended-release form, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions properly.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store Doxazosin?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Doxazosin dosage

What should be considered before using the drug Doxazosin?

Before using Doxazosin,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to doxazosin, prazosin (Minipress), terazosin (Hytrin), or any other medications.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products that you are using or will be using. Be sure to mention the following: antihistamines; clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); ipratropium (Atrovent); itraconazole (Sporanox); ketoconazole (Nizoral); drugs for erectile dysfunction (ED) such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra); medications for high blood pressure; drugs for HIV / AIDS including atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (ritonavir, di Kaletra), or saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); medicine for irritable bowel disease, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, ulcers, or urinary problems; nefazodone; telithromycin (Ketek); and voriconazole (Vfend). Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have angina (chest pain). low blood pressure; or if you have or have ever had prostate cancer or liver disease. If you are taking extended-release tablets, tell your doctor if you experience constipation, short bowel syndrome (a condition in which more than half of the small intestine has been removed by surgery or damaged by disease), or narrowing or blockage of the intestine.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using doxazosin, call your doctor.
• Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using doxazosin if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not use doxazosin because it is unsafe because there are other drugs available that can be used to treat the same condition.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about using doxazosin. If you need to have eye surgery during or after treatment, be sure to tell your doctor that you are using or have been using doxazosin.
• You should know that doxazosin can make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or perform hazardous tasks for 24 hours after the first time you use doxazosin or after your dose is increased.
• You should know that doxazosin can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start using doxazosin, when your dose is increased, or if your medication has been stopped for more than a few days. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up. If you experience these symptoms, try to sit or lie down. If these symptoms do not improve, contact your doctor

Is the drug Doxazosin safe for pregnant and lactating women?

Animal studies suggest that doxazosin may be a risk to the fetus if consumed by pregnant women. However, the doctor may consider whether the benefits of this drug outweigh the risks, if the mother's condition is fatal if left untreated.

Always consult your doctor or midwife before taking any medicine during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Doxazosin side effects

What are the possible side effects of Doxazosin?

Less serious side effects may include:

• Lightheadedness
• Feeling tired, sleepy
• Headache
• Hard to breathe
• Diarrhea
• Swollen
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea
• Runny

Call your doctor if you have serious side effects such as:

• Feel like passing out
• Fast or pounding heartbeat, a pounding feeling in the chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling in the hands, ankles, or soles of the feet
• Penile erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or more

Not everyone experiences the above side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug Doxazosin Warnings and Cautions

What drugs can interfere with the drug Doxazosin?

Although certain drugs should not be used at the same time, in other cases, two different drugs can be used together even if interactions are possible. In this case, your doctor may want to change the dose, or take other precautions that may be needed.

When you are taking this medicine it is very important that your healthcare provider knows if you are currently taking any of the medicines that are listed below. The following interactions are selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all inclusive.

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this drug or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Boceprevir

Using this medication 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 the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or adjust how often you use one or both drugs.

• Acebutolol
• Alprenolol
• Atenolol
• Avanafil
• Betaxolol
• Bevantolol
• Bisoprolol
• Bucindolol
• Carteolol
• Carvedilol
• Celiprolol
• Dilevalol
• Esmolol
• Labetalol
• Levobunolol
• Mepindolol
• Metipranolol
• Metoprolol
• Nadolol
• Nebivolol
• Nifedipine
• Oxprenolol
• Penbutolol
• Pindolol
• Propranolol
• Sildenafil
• Sotalol
• Tadalafil
• Talinolol
• Tertatolol
• Timolol
• Vardenafil

Can certain foods and drinks interfere with the work of the drug Doxazosin?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interfere with the performance of the drug Doxazosin?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems.:

• Digestive blockage (stomach and intestines) - can increase the effects of doxazosin which can increase the chance of side effects
• Heart problems - can make the condition worse
• Hypotension (drop in blood pressure) - increases the occurrence of fainting, especially after the first dose or an increase in the dose of this medicine
• Kidney disease - possible increased sensitivity to the effects of doxazosin
• liver disease - the effects of doxazosin can be increased, which can increase the chance of side effects
• Prostate cancer - your doctor will make sure you do not have prostate cancer before starting this drug.

Doxazosin Drug Interactions

The information provided is not a substitute for a doctor's prescription. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of doxazosin for adults?

Initial dosage:

• Immediate-release : 1 mg orally once a day
• Extended-release : 4 mg orally once a day with breakfast

Maintenance dosage:

Immediate-release : 1-8 mg orally once a day.

Extended-release : 4-8 mg orally once a day with breakfast. Depending on the patient's symptomatic response and tolerability, the dose may be increased to 8 mg (the maximum recommended dose).

What is the dosage of doxazosin for children?

Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

In what dosages and preparations doxazosin is available?

• Cardura: 1 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg
• Generic: 1 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg
• Cardura XL: 4 mg, 8 mg

What to do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms may include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizzy
• Head light
• Fainting
• Seizures

What should I do if I forget to take medicine or forget to take medicine?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment.