Minipress (Prazosin)

General information

Minipress belongs to a class of medications called alpha blockers. It works by relaxing and widening blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. This medication is used with or without other medications to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

Directions

Take Minipress exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually two or three times daily. If stomach upset occurs, take with food or milk. Take it at the same time each day. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Initial dose is 1 mg two or three times a day. Your dosage may be slowly increased to maximum dose of 20 mg given in divided doses.

Precautions

Before taking Minipress you should talk with your doctor if you have heart problems (low blood pressure), kidney disease, uncontrolled attacks of deep sleep (narcolepsy), prostate cancer. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive or perform tasks that require alertness. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Limit alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can increase some of the side effects.

Contraindications

You should not use Minipress if you are allergic to prazosin. Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have headache, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, pounding heartbeat, fainting, frequent urination, mental or mood changes, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, throat, severe dizziness, trouble breathing, stuffy nose, dry mouth, penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.

Drug interactions

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially: digoxin, gout medications (colchicine, allopurinol, probenecid), drugs for male erectile problems (tadalafil, vardenafil, sildenafil), heart rhythm medications (quinidine, flecainide, amiodarone), blood pressure medications, diuretics (furosemide, torsemide, bumetanide), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (celecoxib, etodolac, diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin), insulin, sedatives (triazolam, midazolam). Interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking.

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose if it is time for your next scheduled dose. Don't take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once. The overdose symptoms are drowsiness, slow reactions, fainting.

Storage

Store the medicine at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store the drugs in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.