Cardura

Generic name: Doxazosin

Doxazosin tablets

What are doxazosin tablets?

DOXAZOSIN (Cardura®) is an antihypertensive. Doxazosin lowers, but does not cure, high blood pressure. It works by relaxing your blood vessels. It also can be used to treat enlargement of the prostate gland in men.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

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

• kidney disease
• liver disease
• low blood pressure
• an unusual or allergic reaction to doxazosin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take doxazosin tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Take your doses at regular intervals even if you feel better. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with doxazosin?

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

• other alpha-blockers such as alfuzosin, phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, prazosin, tamsulosin, terazosin
• tadalafil
• vardenafil

Doxazosin may also interact with the following medications:

• antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)
• dopamine
• female hormones, including contraceptive or birth control pills
• medicines for colds and breathing difficulties
• medicines for high blood pressure
• metaraminol
• methoxamine
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Azilect®, Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate®, Zelapar.)
• sildenafil (doses of sildenafil higher than 25 mg should be taken at least 4 hours apart from taking doxazosin)
• water pills

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines 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. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from taking doxazosin?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

Rare or uncommon:

• difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• prolonged painful erection of the penis (priapism)

More common:

• dizziness or drowsiness
• fainting spells
• numbness in hands or feet
• palpitations or pounding heart, irregular heartbeat
• swelling of the legs or ankles

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• headache
• nausea
• unusual tiredness

What should I watch for while taking doxazosin?

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

You may feel drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires mental alertness until you know how doxazosin 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 increase flushing and rapid heartbeats. Take doxazosin at bedtime to 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. Dizziness can decrease once your body adjusts to this medicine.

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

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.

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

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degreec C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.