Minipress

Minipress (Prazosin)

Minipress

Prazosin tablet

What is it used for?

PRAZOSIN is an antihypertensive. Prazosin lowers high blood pressure, yet it is incapable of curing it completely. It works by relaxing the blood vessels. Prazosin is sometimes used for the prostate problems.

What should I discuss with my physician prior to taking this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of the following conditions:

• angina
• kidney diseases
• an unusual or allergic reaction to prazosin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How is this medicine should be taken?

Take prazosin orally by swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Taking the tablet with food can help to counter the possible side effects. Your doses should be taken at the regular intervals. You should never take this medicine more often than prescribed. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.

Inquire with your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine by children. Special care might be necessary.

Overdosage: If you suspect an overdosage, get in touch with the nearest poison control center or emergency room immediately.

NOTE: This medicine is only intended for your use. You should never share it with the others.

What to do if I missed a dose?

If you missed a dose, it should be taken as soon as possible. If the time has almost come for the next dose, only that one should be taken. You should never take double or extra doses; a single doze is sufficient for the purposes.

What are the possible interactions with the other medicine/food/etc?

Do not take prazosin if you are taking the following medications:

• other alpha-blockers such as alfuzosin, doxazosin, phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, tamsulosin, terazosin

Prazosin may also trigger possible interactions with the following:

• medicines for colds and breathing difficulties
• medicines for high blood pressure
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• sildenafil (doses of sildenafil higher than 25 mg should be taken at least 4 hours apart from taking prazosin)
• tadalafil
• vardenafil
• water pills

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines that you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. Some of those items may also interact with your medicine, causing undesired consequenses. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking this medicine?

Check your blood pressure regularly. Ask your prescriber or health care professional what your blood pressure should be and when you should contact them.

You may feel drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires mental alertness until you know how prazosin affects you. To reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells, do not sit or stand up quickly. Avoid alcoholic drinks; they can make you more drowsy, and can increase flushing and rapid heartbeats. Taking initial doses of prazosin at bedtime can lessen the effects of drowsiness and dizziness, but be careful if you have to get up during the night. Drowsiness and dizziness are more likely to occur after the first dose, after an increase in dose, or during hot weather or exercise. These effects can decrease once your body adjusts to this medicine.

Although this is extremely rare among men who take taking prazosin, contact you health care provider immediately if you experience prolonged and painful penis erection, which is unrelated to the sexual activity (priapism). If not brought to immediate medical attention, priapism can lead to a permanent erectile dysfunction (impotence).

You might experience dry mouth symptom. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking a sugar candy, and drinking plenty of water, will help.

Do not take nonprescription medicine for weight-loss without asking your prescriber or health care professional. Also, do not take cough and cold, hay fever or sinus medications without asking your prescriber or health care professional first.

If you are going to have a surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking prazosin.

Does this medicine have any possible side effects?

The following side effects should be reported to your doctor or health care professional as soon as they are noticed:

• difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• prolonged painful erection of the penis (priapism)
• blurred vision
• fainting spells, lightheadedness
• irregular heartbeat, palpitations or chest pains
• mental depression
• swelling of the legs and ankles
• vomiting

The below side effects usually do not necessarily require any medical attention (please do report them to your physician if they are recurrent or bothersome):

• constipation or diarrhea
• drowsiness or dizziness
• dry mouth
• headache
• nausea
• sexual difficulties (impotence)
• stomach pain
• unusual weakness or tiredness

Other side effects are also possible, the above list is not all inclusive.

Where should I store it?

Keep out of the children’s reach in a container that can not be opened by them.

This medicine should be stored at the room temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Protect it from the light. Keep container tightly closed. Dispose of any unused medicine after the expiry date is reached.