Doxazosin tablets

Doxazosin belongs to the group of medicines called vasodilatants (alpha blockers). It is used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension). Doxazosin works by widening the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. This helps to lower blood pressure.

Doxazosin is also used to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland in men, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This product text focuses on use of Doxazosin for high blood pressure. For additional information on use in men with BPH, see the package leaflet.

Always take Doxazosin exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The tablets should be taken in a once-daily dosage with a glass of water (one glass).

The usual dose is:

Adults

High blood pressure

The usual starting dose is 1 mg a day before going to bed.

After one to two weeks the dose may be increased to 2 mg a day for a further one to two weeks.

Your doctor may continue to increase your dose up to a maximum of 16 mg a day depending on how your blood pressure responds to treatment.

If you take more Doxazosin than you should

If you have taken more than the dosage prescribed or if you think a child or someone else has swallowed any of the tablets, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or your doctor immediately. An overdose is likely to cause low blood pressure, which may make you feel dizzy or faint. In case of serious dizziness or imminent fainting you should lie down immediately with your head downward.

If you forget to take Doxazosin

If you forget to take a tablet, leave that dose out completely. Then go back to your usual schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take the remaining doses at the correct time. In case of doubt you should always consult your pharmacist or doctor.

If you stop taking Doxazosin

You should continue to take these tablets for as long as your doctor tells you to. If the use of this medication is suddenly stopped, the symptoms that existed before the start of the treatment may reoccur.

Do NOT take Doxazosin if:

• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to doxazosin, or to other medication from the same medicine category (the so-called quinazolines, such as prazosin or terazosin), or to any of the other ingredients of Doxazosin.
• You suffer from dizziness when standing up from a lying or sitting position due to decrease in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension).
• You experience problems with urinating:
• have a loss of urinary control (overflow bladder)
• decreased or absent production of urine (anuria)
• progressive kidney insufficiency
• You are breastfeeding.

Take special care with Doxazosin

• At start of the treatment or when the dose is increased. The blood pressure reducing influence may be stronger, which is noticeable by dizziness and weakness or sometimes fainting. Your doctor may check your blood pressure to minimise the risk. Avoid situations in which you could be hurt when you experience dizziness or weakness.
• If you are suffering from acute heart disease.
• If you have liver problems. In patients with severe liver function impairment, use of Doxazosin is not recommended.
• If you are using certain medication for erectile dysfunction (see the package leaflet for more information).
• If you are undergoing eye surgery because of cataract (cloudiness of the lens) please inform your eye specialist before the operation that you are using or have previously used Doxazosin. This is because Doxazosin may cause complications during the surgery which can be managed if your specialist is prepared in advance.
• Use in children below the age of 12 years is not recommended.

Other medicines and Doxazosin

Some medicines may influence each other's activity and/or side effects if taken simultaneously (known as interaction). Therefore, you should inform the doctor of any medicines and/or nutritional supplements you are taking. For a complete overview of the medicines that may interfere with the way Doxazosin works, please see the package leaflet.

• Some medicines may cause side effects that make you feel less alert than normal (e.g., sleepiness, dizziness or blurred vision). It is more likely that these side effects occur in at the beginning of the treatment with Doxazosin. Do not drive or use machinery if affected.
• Patients who are intolerant to lactose should note that Doxazosin tablets contain a small amount of lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
• If you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine. Doxazosin is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless your doctor decides that the potential benefit of treatment outweighs the risks.

Doxazosin tablets are only available on prescription. You can ask the doctor for a prescription during an online consultation. With this prescription you can order the tablets from the pharmacy.

If you would like to know what Doxazosin tablets cost, please check our order page for the current price. The price listed includes the cost of the online consultation and a service fee.

Like all medicines, Doxazosin can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop taking the tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you experience any of the following effects:

• Rash and/or itch which may be the result of an allergic reaction to this medicine.
• Swelling of the face due to fluid accumulation (facial oedema).

These are very serious but uncommon side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Very common (occurring in more than 1 in 10 patients)

• Dizziness, headache.

Common (occurring in less than 1 in 10 patients)

• Infection of the respiratory tract.
• Infection of the urinary tract.
• Lack of appetite.
• Anxiety, nervousness.
• Sleepiness.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension), faintness or dizziness caused by low blood pressure when getting up from a sitting or lying position (postural hypotension).
• Feeling of spinning or rotation of surroundings (vertigo).
• Tingling without apparent cause (paresthesia).
• Palpitations, rapid heart rate (tachycardia).
• Inflammation of the airway (bronchitis), cough, shortness of breath, runny nose (rhinitis).
• Abdominal pain, pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen (dyspepsia), dry mouth, feeling sick, diarrhoea.
• Severe itching (pruritus).
• Back pain, muscle pain.
• Bladder infection (cystitis), urinary incontinence.
• Weakness and loss of strength.
• Chest pain.
• Flu-like symptoms.
• Swelling of tissue due to fluid accumulation, usually in the lower limbs (peripheral oedema).
• Tiredness.
• General feeling of being unwell (malaise).

This list is not exhaustive. For a complete list of side effects, see the package leaflet. If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in the leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

The active substance is doxazosin mesylate. Each tablet contains doxazosin mesylate equivalent to 1 mg, 2 mg or 4 mg doxazosin.

The other ingredients are: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose anhydrous, starch sodium glycolate, magnesium stearate, sodium laurilsulfate, colloidal anhydrous silica.