Hytrin

Hytrin is an antihypertensive drug under the alpha blocker group, used to treat high blood pressure or hypertension and symptoms of prostate enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or BPH). This medication relaxes the blood vessels to make the blood flow easily and smoothly. This reduces the high blood pressure and decreases the chance of having heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Terazosin also relaxes the prostate and bladder neck muscle to relieve urination problems related to BPH.

Instructions

Read your medication guide and follow your doctor’s prescription at all times.

• Take terazosin orally/ by mouth with food or milk to or prevent stomach upset, once daily during your sleeping hour at night per doctor’s prescription.
• The dosage depends on your medical condition or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.
• Avoid alcohol intake and activities that require mental alertness (i.e. driving, operating machinery) because this medication can cause dizziness.
• Continue taking this medication on regular schedule (same time of the day). Do not stop taking this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor.

Inform your doctor immediately if your condition aggravates or does not improve.

Take your missed dose as soon as possible. However, make sure that the time interval between the missed and the next dose is not too close. Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose. Do not double dose to cover up a missed dose. Record your missed doses and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.

Interactions

Terazosin may interact with:

• Sildenafil
• Tadalafil
• Verapamil
• Alfuzosin, tamsulosin or other alpha blockers
• Diphenhydramine or other anti- histamine drug
• Muscle relaxants (i.e. carisoprodol)
• Codeine, morphin or other narcotic pain reliever
• Chlorpromazine, amitriptyline or other psychiatric drugs
• Ibuprofen, naproxen or other NSAIDs and
• Cough- and- cold products

Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of Terazosin. Likewise, Terazosin may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.

Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with Terazosin.

Never alter the doses of other medications while on Terazosin neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.

Side Effects

There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.

Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling

Warnings

Before taking terazosin, tell your health care provider if you have/are:

• Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to Terazosin or other alpha blockers (i.e. Prazosin)
• Medical history or a present condition such as:
  • Low blood pressure

• Episodes of losing consciousness or fainting
• Prostate cancer or other prostate/ bladder disease
• Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a baby (It is not known if Terazosin can harm the unborn baby or if it can pass through breast milk that may harm the nursing child. The risks and benefits of using this medication during pregnancy must be discussed well with your doctor.)