Description
Doxazosin is an alpha-blocker. It relaxes the muscle in the walls of blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure, and it also relaxes muscle in the prostate and the neck of the bladder, so it is licensed both for high blood pressure and for the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The standard tablets are taken once daily, usually starting at 1mg and increased in steps by your prescriber.
The first dose, and any increase, can make you feel dizzy or faint when you stand up, so take it when you can sit or lie down afterwards and get up slowly. Tell your prescriber if you have liver problems, if you take medicines for erectile dysfunction, or if you are due to have cataract surgery, because doxazosin can affect the iris during the operation.
High blood pressure itself often causes no symptoms, so keep taking the tablets and attend your reviews.
- Alpha-blocker for high blood pressure and enlarged prostate symptoms
- Available in 1mg, 2mg and 4mg tablets, taken once daily
- Dizziness on standing is most likely after the first dose or a dose increase
- Tell your eye surgeon before cataract surgery
- Take care with medicines for erectile dysfunction, which also lower blood pressure
