What is terazosin?
Terazosin belongs to a class of medications called alpha 1 blockers which relax the smooth muscles of the arteries, the prostate, and the bladder neck.
Is terazosin available as a generic drug?
Yes
Do I need a prescription for terazosin?
Yes
Why is terazosin prescribed to patients?
Terazosin is used to treat the symptoms of urinary
obstruction due to an enlarged prostate caused by
benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Terazosin also is used alone or in combination with another blood pressure
medication to treat
high blood pressure.
What are the side effects of terazosin?
Commonly reported side effects include:
- postural hypotension,
- dizziness,
- weakness,
- fatigue,
- headaches,
- swelling of the legs (edema),
- palpitations,
- nasal congestion,
- sleepiness,
- decreased libido,
- impotence, and
- blurred vision.
By relaxing the smooth muscles and dilating the arteries,
terazosin can cause a marked lowering of the blood pressure especially when the
patient stands up (orthostatic or postural hypotension). Postural hypotension
can cause the patient to faint upon standing. Postural hypotension and
fainting usually are associated with the first dose or the first few days of
treatment. Hypotension and fainting also can occur when doses of medication are
increased abruptly or another blood pressure medication is added. In order to
decrease the likelihood of excessive hypotension and fainting, terazosin is
initiated low doses.
Prostate cancer and prostatic hypertrophy both cause
similar symptoms of obstruction to the flow of urine. Prostate cancer and
prostatic hypertrophy can co-exist. Therefore, patients being treated for
prostate hypertrophy should be evaluated to exclude the presence of prostate
cancer.
What is the dosage for terazosin?
Terazosin may be taken with or
without food. The recommended starting dose for treating BPH is 1 mg daily. The
dose should be increased in a steps up to 10 mg daily which is the
effective dose for most patients. Some patients may show additional improvement
with a 20 mg dose. For high blood pressure the recommended dose is 1 to 5 mg
once daily. Some patients may benefit from doses as high as 20 mg per day.
Terazosin also may be administered twice daily.
Which drugs or supplements interact with terazosin?
PDE-5 inhibitors used primarily for
erectile
dysfunction (for example,
vardenafil [Levitra, Staxyn], Adcirca,
tadalafil [Cialis],
sildenafil [Viagra, Revatio) add
to the blood pressure lowering effects of terazosin and may result in
orthostatic or postural hypotension. (See Side Effects.) Individuals who take terazosin should be on a stable dose before a PDE-5 inhibitor is started, and
the PDE-5 inhibitor should be started at the lowest dose. If the patient is
already taking a PDE-5 inhibitor terazosin should be started at the lowest dose.
Is terazosin safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
There are no adequate studies of terazosin in
pregnancy. It
is not recommended during pregnancy unless the benefits justify the potential
but unknown risks to the fetus
It is not known whether terazosin is excreted in breast milk.
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What else should I know about terazosin?
What preparations of terazosin are available?
Tablets or Capsules: 1, 2, 5, and 10 mg.
How should I keep terazosin stored?
Terazosin should be stored at room temperature below 86 F (30 C) in a tight container.
How does terazosin work?
Terazosin is part of a class of alpha blockers. Alpha blockers include doxazosin (Cardura),
alfuzosin (Uroxatral), tamsulosin (Flomax), and prazosin (Minipress)
relaxing the smooth muscles of the arteries to lower blood pressure. Relaxing the smooth
muscles around the bladder neck relieves urinary obstruction caused by an
enlarged prostate (prostate hypertrophy). Terazosin relaxes the smooth muscles
of the bladder neck and the prostate, increasing urine flow.
When was terazosin approved by the FDA?
The FDA approved terazosin in 1987.