| drug | Terazosin |
| name | Terazosin |
| classification | Alpha-adrenergic blocker |
| pharmacokinetics | | absorption | Terazosin is well absorbed after oral administration, with peak plasma concentrations typically observed within 2-4 hours. | | distribution | Terazosin distributes widely throughout the body, crossing the blood-brain barrier to a certain extent. | | metabolism | Metabolized primarily by the liver. | | excretion | Excreted primarily in the urine, both unchanged and as metabolites. |
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| suggested dosage | | initial | 2 mg daily at bedtime | | titration | Dose may be increased gradually every 1-2 days up to 20 mg daily | | notes | Administering the medication at bedtime may help to minimize orthostatic hypotension. |
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| indications | | 1 | Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) | | 2 | High blood pressure |
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| safety in pregnancy | Terazosin is not recommended during pregnancy due to potential risks to the developing fetus. It is a pregnancy category C drug. Consultation with a healthcare provider is critical if pregnancy is suspected or planned. |
| safety in breastfeeding | It is not known whether terazosin is excreted in human milk. Therefore, caution should be used when administering to breastfeeding mothers. It is important to discuss the use of the medication with a healthcare professional. |
| side effects | | 1 | Orthostatic hypotension (dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting upon standing) | | 2 | Headache | | 3 | Fatigue | | 4 | Nasal congestion | | 5 | Dizziness | | 6 | Drowsiness | | 7 | Ejaculatory dysfunction | | 8 | Abdominal discomfort | | 9 | Weakness | | 10 | Nausea | | 11 | Vomiting | | 12 | Diarrhea |
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| alternatives | |
| contraindications | | 1 | Hypersensitivity to terazosin or any of its components | | 2 | Severe hepatic impairment | | 3 | Concurrent use with certain medications (e.g., strong CYP3A4 inhibitors) – see interactions section. |
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| interactions | | concurrent medications | Terazosin can interact with medications such as strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin). This can lead to increased terazosin levels and potentially more severe side effects. | | other interactions | Concurrent use with other hypotensive medications may result in an additive effect and significantly lower blood pressure. This is important to consider. |
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| warnings and precautions | | 1 | Orthostatic hypotension can occur especially during the initial dose titration, monitor for symptoms like dizziness or lightheadedness. | | 2 | Monitor blood pressure closely, particularly during the first few days of treatment | | 3 | Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions (e.g., heart failure, coronary artery disease) should be carefully monitored for potential adverse effects. | | 4 | Avoid abrupt discontinuation of the medication, it should be tapered off gradually to avoid rebound hypertension. |
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| additional informations | | 1 | Terazosin is typically used to treat BPH in older adults. Dosage adjustments may be needed based on individual patient factors. A patient's age and weight of 25 years and 70kg are not a direct contraindication for Terazosin but can factor in to determining a starting dosage. | | 2 | Patients should be advised to take the medication at the same time each day to ensure consistent blood levels. Keeping a detailed medication log can be useful for monitoring the course of treatment. |
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| patient details | |
