Terazosin

Uses of Terazosin

Terazosin is in a group of drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers. Terazosin relaxes your veins and arteries so that blood can more easily pass through them. It also relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.

Terazosin is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) in men to improve urination and can be used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) in men and women.

Precautions and Warnings

People who are allergic to any of the following should not use terazosin.

• Hytrin
• Terazosin
• Terazosin HCl
• Terazosin hydrochloride
• Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific terazosin products they stock.

Do not take terazosin unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share terazosin with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep terazosin out of the reach of children.

Terazosin may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness and coordination for at least 12 hours after your first dose or after your dose is increased. Wait to drive or do other activities that require coordination until you know how terazosin affects you.

People who are age 65 and older can be at greater risk for some side effects from terazosin. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

Terazosin is commonly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. In some cases, BPH can occur at the same time as prostate cancer. Your healthcare provider may recommend getting tested for prostate cancer before you start terazosin and getting regular screenings thereafter.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if terazosin is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Terazosin may raise the risk of eye problems called intraoperative floppy iris syndrome during or after cataract or glaucoma surgery. Tell your healthcare provider if you are planning to have eye surgery. They may recommend that you wait until after the surgery is over to start terazosin.

Terazosin may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking terazosin, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

It is not known if terazosin could affect pregnancy or if it could harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take terazosin while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

It is not known if terazosin passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Dosage

Usual Terazosin Adult Dose for Hypertension:

• Initial dose: 1 mg orally once a day at bedtime
• Maintenance dose: 1-5 mg orally once a day.
• If the response is diminished at 24 hours, increase the dose or use twice daily.

Maximum dose: 20 mg per day.

• Usual Terazosin Adult Dose for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia:
• Initial dose: 1 mg orally once a day at bedtime.

Maintenance dose: Increase the dose in a stepwise fashion to 2 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg once a day to achieve desired improvement of symptoms. Generally, dosages of 10 mg/day are needed for a clinical response.

Side Effects

Common side effects:

• weakness
• puffy feet or hands
• nasal congestion
• dizziness
• lack of energy
• drowsiness.