Hytrin

Generic name: Terazosin

Usage of Hytrin

Hytrin is in a group of drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers. Hytrin relaxes your veins and arteries so that blood can more easily pass through them. It also relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.

Hytrin is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), or to improve urination in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

Hytrin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Hytrin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Hytrin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fast or pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

feeling like you might pass out;

swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; or

penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.

Less serious Hytrin side effects may include:

mild dizziness;

weakness, drowsiness;

blurred vision;

nausea; or

headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Hytrin

Hytrin can affect your pupils during cataract surgery. Tell your eye surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medication. Do not stop using Hytrin before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.

If you have a history of prostate cancer, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Hytrin.

You should not use Hytrin if you are allergic to terazosin.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Hytrin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether terazosin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Hytrin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How to use Hytrin

Take Hytrin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Hytrin lowers blood pressure and may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it, or when you start taking it again. You may wish to take this medication only at bedtime if it causes you to feel light-headed. Call your doctor if you have severe dizziness or feel like you might pass out.

You may feel very dizzy when you first wake up. Be careful when standing or sitting up from a lying position.

If you stop taking Hytrin for any reason, call your doctor before you start taking it again. You may need a dose adjustment.

Your blood pressure and/or prostate will need to be checked often. Visit your doctor regularly.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using Hytrin even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

Some things can cause your blood pressure to get too low. This includes vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, heart disease, dialysis, a low-salt diet, or taking diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

Store Hytrin at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Warnings

You should not use Hytrin if you are allergic to terazosin. Hytrin may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it or when you start taking it again. You may wish to take this medication only at bedtime if it causes you to feel light-headed. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Avoid standing for long periods of time or becoming overheated during exercise and in hot weather. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

If you stop taking Hytrin for any reason, call your doctor before you start taking it again. You may need a dose adjustment.

Hytrin can affect your pupils during cataract surgery. Tell your eye surgeon ahead of time that you are using Hytrin. Do not stop using Hytrin before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially other blood pressure medications including diuretics (water pills).

What other drugs will affect Hytrin

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio);

tadalafil (Cialis);

vardenafil (Levitra);

verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); or

other blood pressure medications, including diuretics (water pills).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Hytrin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.