Introduction
Alphapress 2 belongs to a class of medicines called as alpha-blocker. It is used to treat high blood pressure and lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It may also be used to treat heart failure and mild enlargement of the prostate gland in men.
Alphapress 2 may be prescribed alone or in combination with other medicines. It can be taken with or without food. The dose will depend on your condition and how you respond to the medicine. Follow the advice of your doctor on what is right for you. You need to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit from it so keep taking it even if you feel well. High blood pressure does not usually have symptoms. If you stop taking it, your blood pressure may rise and put you at risk of heart attack or stroke. You may need to take it for the rest of your life.
The most common side effects of this medicine include dizziness, headache, nausea and unusual beating of the heart (palpitation). Most side effects disappear when you get used to the medicine. If they bother you or do go away, talk to your doctor. It may also cause your blood pressure to go too low especially when you first start taking this medicine. Some side effects may be serious and need urgent medical attention. Your doctor may be able to help with ways of preventing or reducing side effects.
If you are pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor before using this medicine. Also talk to your doctor before taking it if you have heart failure, liver disease or kidney disease and if you are having eye surgery for a cataract. Your blood pressure will need to be checked regularly while using this medicine.
Uses of Alphapress 2
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Side effects of Alphapress 2
Common
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Low energy
- Palpitations
- Nausea
How to use Alphapress 2
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Alphapress 2 may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Alphapress 2 works
Alphapress 2 is an alpha blocker. It lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body.
What if you forget to take Alphapress 2?
If you miss a dose of Alphapress 2, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Indication
Hypertension, Benign prostatic hyperplasia, Raynaud's syndrome
Administration
May be taken with or without food. Starting dose is best taken w/ dinner, at least 2-3 hr before retiring. Maintenance doses may be taken w/ or w/o meals.
Adult Dose
Oral
Hypertension
Conventional Tablet:
Adult: Initially, 0.5 mg bid or tid for 3-7 days, increased to 1 mg bid or tid for the next 3-7 days.
Thereafter, the daily dose should be increased gradually as determined by the patient’s response to the blood pressure lowering effect. Most patients are likely to be maintained on a dosage regimen of Prazosin alone of up to 15 mg daily in divided doses.
Max: 20 mg/day in divided doses.Dosage should be individualized depending on patient tolerance and response.
Extended Release Tablet:
Dosage should be individualized depending on patient tolerance and response.
Adult: Initially, Prazosin extended release 2.5mg once daily.
Dosage may be increased slowly, in general over a 7 to 14 day period, depending on the response to each dose level.
Max:Doses above 20mg once daily have not been studied.
Maintenance dose: Dosage may be increased as clinically indicated to 20mg given in once-daily doses.
Hypertensive patients controlled on Prazosin tablets alone or in combination with other anti-hypertensive medications may be switched to Prazosin extended release tablets at the equivalent or nearest higher total daily dose, e.g. Prazosin tablets 4 mg daily equivalent to Prazosin extended release tablets 5 mg once daily.
Blood pressure measurements should be taken at the end of the dosing interval to assure adequate blood pressure control is maintained throughout the 24 hour period. Further titration may be necessary in some patients.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia;
Adult: Initially, 0.5 mg bid, increased to a maintenance dose not exceeding 2 mg bid.
Raynaud Phenomenon
1-5 PO q12hr
Elderly: Dose reduction needed.
Hepatic impairment: Dose reduction needed.
Renal Dose
Renal impairment: Dose reduction needed.
Contraindication
Congestive heart failure due to mechanical obstruction. Hypersensitivity. Pregnancy.
Mode of Action
Prazosin competitively blocks postsynaptic alpha1-adrenoceptors of veins and arterioles causing vasodilation, reduction in BP and total peripheral resistance usually w/o reflex tachycardia.
Precaution
Prostate cancer should be ruled out before starting therapy. Patients w/ history of micturition syncope, angina pectoris. Treatment of heart failure due to mechanical obstruction (e.g. aortic or mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary embolism and restrictive pericardial disease). During cataract surgery, Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) may occur. Renal and hepatic impairment. Elderly. Pregnancy and lactation. Patient Counselling May impair ability to drive or operate machinery. A low starting dose is given in the evening to lessen the risk of collapse. Hypotensive effects may be exaggerated by exercise and heat. Monitoring Parameters Monitor renal function. Careful monitoring of BP during initial titration or subsequent upward dosage adjustment.
Lactation: Excreted in breast milk; use caution
Side Effect
1-10%
Dizziness (10%),Drowsiness (8%),Headache (8%),Weakness (7%),Asthenia (6.5%),Nausea (5%),Palpitation (5%)
Frequency Not Defined (Selected)
Edema,Orthostatic hypotension,Syncope,Fever,Rash,Abdominal discomfort/pain,Diarrhea,Vomiting,Abnormal liver function tests,Impotence,Pancreatitis,Urinary incontinence
Potentially Fatal: Rarely, hypotension may be life-threatening.
Interaction
Hypotensive effects may be enhanced w/ diuretics and other antihypertensives. Increased risk of 1st dose hypotension w/ ?-blockers or Ca channel blockers. Concomitant admin w/ phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors (e.g. sildenafil) may result in additive hypotensive effects and symptomatic hypotension.