Prazosin

What is Prazosin for?

Prazosin belongs to a group of medications known as alpha-1 blockers. It is used to reduce high blood pressure in people with hypertension. It works by widening (relaxing) blood vessel walls thus lowering your blood pressure.

This medication may also be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

How should I take or use Prazosin?

• Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
• You may take this medication with or without food.

What should I do if I forget to take or use Prazosin?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using Prazosin?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• You have heart problems (e.g. chest pain / angina)
• You have kidney problems
• You are undergoing eye surgery for cataracts (cloudiness of the lens). Inform your eye specialist before the operation that you are currently taking or have previously taken the medication. The pupil may dilate poorly and the iris (the coloured part of the eye) may become floppy during the operation. It is important to inform the eye specialist on this as the operation may need to be carried out differently.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use Prazosin?

Avoid drinking alcohol as it may increase the risk of dizziness, light-headedness or drowsiness.

This medication may interact with other medications.

Examples include:

• Sildenafil, Tadalafil or Vardenafil

Inform your healthcare professional of any other medications that you are currently taking and consult them if you are unsure whether your existing medications can be taken together with Prazosin.

What are some common side effects of Prazosin?

• Dizziness, light-headedness or fainting
  • These side effects may occur, especially when you are taking Prazosin for the first time, restarting treatment, or taking a higher dose of Prazosin. These may also occur when you stand up quickly from a lying or sitting position. If you are affected by this, you should lie down until you feel better then sit for a few minutes before standing again to prevent these effects from returning. These side effects usually improve with time once you have become used to taking this medication.
• Drowsiness
  • May affect your level of focus or ability to drive and use machinery. Make sure that you are not feeling drowsy before you drive or do things that require you to be alert.

What are some rare but serious side effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

How should I store Prazosin?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away Prazosin safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.