Terazosin

1 medicine

Terazosin is an alpha-1 blocker used for high blood pressure and the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate; the first dose can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and fainting, so it is taken at bedtime.

Hytrin

Terazosin

1/2/5mg

Hytrin is a mens health medication containing Terazosin, available as 1/2/5mg tablets.

from $0.98 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Terazosin is an alpha-1 blocker that relaxes smooth muscle in blood vessel walls and in the prostate and bladder neck.
  • You usually take it once or twice daily, starting at a low dose.
  • The first dose, or any dose increase, can cause a sudden, marked fall in blood pressure with dizziness or fainting, especially on standing. Take it at bedtime and avoid driving until you know how you react.
  • Seek urgent care for fainting, chest pain, or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

What terazosin treats

Terazosin treats hypertension (high blood pressure) and the urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. Those symptoms include a weak urine stream, frequent urination, waking at night to urinate, and difficulty starting the flow, caused by the enlarged prostate pressing on the urethra.

How terazosin works

Terazosin blocks alpha-1 receptors on smooth muscle in blood vessel walls and in the prostate and bladder neck. Blocking these receptors relaxes the muscle, so blood vessels widen and blood pressure falls, and the outlet from the bladder opens more easily so urine flows with less resistance.

Before you take it

  • Take the first dose, and any increased dose, at bedtime because of the risk of a sudden fall in blood pressure known as the first-dose effect.
  • Tell your prescriber if you have low blood pressure, heart failure, or a cataract operation scheduled, since alpha-blockers can cause the iris to billow or prolapse during that surgery.
  • Alcohol, other blood-pressure medicines, and PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil increase the risk of a large blood pressure drop when combined with terazosin.
  • Rise slowly from sitting or lying down, particularly in the first days of treatment or after a dose increase.

Side effects

Common effects include dizziness, headache, tiredness, nasal congestion, and mild nausea.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

  • Fainting or loss of consciousness.
  • Chest pain or a racing, irregular heartbeat.
  • Severe allergic reaction, such as facial swelling or difficulty breathing.
  • An erection lasting more than four hours.

Safety essentials

  • First-dose hypotension is the defining risk with terazosin: take the first dose and any increased dose at bedtime, and sit or lie down right away if you feel light-headed.
  • Tell any eye surgeon that you take terazosin before cataract surgery, since it can cause intraoperative floppy iris syndrome even if you stopped the drug some time ago.
  • Combining terazosin with other blood-pressure medicines, alcohol, or erectile-dysfunction drugs increases the risk of fainting, so introduce these cautiously and under medical advice.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.