What is doxazosin?
Doxazosin is in a group of drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers. Doxazosin causes the blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax and expand, improving blood flow. Doxazosin also relaxes muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. Doxazosin is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). Doxazosin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?
Pricing information provided by drugstore.com.
| Cardura 1MG TABS | PFIZER U.S. | 30/$45.07 or 90/$123.29 |
| Cardura 2MG TABS | PFIZER U.S. | 30/$45.07 or 90/$123.29 |
| Cardura 4MG TABS | PFIZER U.S. | 30/$47.71 or 90/$124.61 |
| Cardura 8MG TABS | PFIZER U.S. | 30/$50.99 or 90/$139.97 |
| Doxazosin Mesylate 1MG TABS | TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA | 30/$19.99 or 90/$49.97 |
| Doxazosin Mesylate 2MG TABS | TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA | 30/$19.99 or 90/$43.97 |
| Doxazosin Mesylate 4MG TABS | TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA | 30/$21.99 or 90/$59.97 |
| Doxazosin Mesylate 8MG TABS | TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA | 30/$23.99 or 90/$62.99 |
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What are the possible side effects of doxazosin?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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fast or pounding heartbeats;
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feeling light-headed, fainting;
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swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; or
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penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:
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weakness;
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headache;
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dizziness; or
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diarrhea, stomach pain.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
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How should I take doxazosin?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Doxazosin lowers blood pressure and may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it, or when you start taking it again. To avoid falling, take the first dose of doxazosin at bedtime. You may wish to continue taking this medication only at bedtime if it causes you to feel light-headed.
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What is the most important information I should know about doxazosin?
Doxazosin lowers blood pressure and may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it, or when you start taking it again. To avoid falling, take the first dose of doxazosin at bedtime. You may wish to continue taking this medication only at bedtime if it causes you to feel light-headed. You may feel very dizzy when you first wake up. Be careful when standing or sitting up from a lying position. If you stopped taking doxazosin for any reason and have started taking it again, you may feel especially dizzy or light-headed after your first few doses.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. If you miss doses for several days in a row, call your doctor before taking any additional doses. You may need to use a lower dose of doxazosin for a short time.
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What other drugs will affect doxazosin?
There may be other drugs that can affect doxazosin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Doxazosin has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have shown that the drug crosses the placenta and that there is decreased fetal survival when rabbits were given 300 times the maximum recommended human dose. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of fetal harm after doses 154 and 75 times the maximum recommended human dose were given to pregnant rabbits and rats, respectively. Because animal reproductive studies are not always predictive of human response, doxazosin should be used in pregnancy when there are no alternatives and benefit outweighs risk.
There are no data on the excretion of doxazosin into human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when doxazosin is administered to a nursing mother.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Known hypersensitivity to doxazosin, quinazolines (e.g., prazosin, terazosin), or any ingredient in the formulation.
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What does my medication look like?
Doxazosin is available with a prescription under the brand name Cardura. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Cardura 1 mg--white, oblong tablets Cardura 2 mg--yellow, oblong tablets Cardura 4 mg--orange, oblong tablets Cardura 8 mg--green, oblong tablets
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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a doxazosin overdose may include drowsiness, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).
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What should I discuss with my doctor before taking doxazosin?
Doxazosin can affect the pupils of your eyes during cataract surgery. If you have cataract surgery during your treatment with doxazosin, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you take doxazosin. Do not stop using the medication before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, or a history of prostate cancer. You may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during therapy with doxazosin. FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
Even though you may feel better you should not stop taking your high blood pressure medication without first checking with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
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