Doxazosin

If you are allergic to Doxazosin, prazosin, terazosin or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Doxazosin is not recommended for children below 18 years as the safety and effectiveness were not established. If you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, inform your doctor before taking Doxazosin. Doxazosin is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers unless advised by a doctor. Drive only if you are alert after taking Doxazosin as it may cause weakness or dizziness. If you are about to undergo cataract eye surgery, inform your eye specialist that you are taking or have previously used Doxazosin as it may cause complications during the surgery. Doxazosin may cause persistent painful erections very rarely. However, if this happens, contact a doctor immediately.

Drug-Drug Interaction: Doxazosin may interact with antibiotics (clarithromycin, telithromycin), antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole), anti-HIV drugs (nelfinavir, saquinavir, indinavir, ritonavir), antidepressant (nefazodone) and medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction (sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil).

Drug-Food Interaction: No interactions found.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Avoid taking Doxazosin if you have a history of orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying position), have anuria (body is not producing any urine) or overflow incontinence (you do not feel the urge to urinate) with or without kidney problems, have enlarged prostate gland with any blockage or congestion in the urinary tract, a longstanding infection of the urinary tract or have bladder stones. If you have liver or heart disease, inform your doctor before taking Doxazosin.

• Maintain a low-salt diet and minimize eating processed foods as they contain more sodium. Try to replace salt with spices or herbs to add flavour to the food.
• Do regular exercise such as cycling, walking, jogging, dancing, or swimming for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.
• Chronic stress may also cause high blood pressure. Therefore, avoid stress triggers and make time for yourself to relax and do activities that you enjoy.
• Maintain a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
• Try to include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid-containing foods in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil, which may help in lowering high blood pressure.
• Quit smoking and avoid the consumption of alcohol.

• Regular monitoring of blood pressure is recommended at the beginning of treatment with Doxazosin to reduce the possibility of orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying position).
• Before starting treatment with Doxazosin, your doctor may perform tests to rule out other conditions, such as prostate cancer, that may cause the same symptoms as benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland).