How does Terapress (Terazosin) work:

Terapress (Terazosin) is prescribed to reduce high blood pressure. It may be used alone or in combination with other blood pressure lowering drugs. Terapress (Terazosin) is also prescribed to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland that surrounds the urinary canal. Terapress (Terazosin) relaxes the tightness of a certain type of muscle in the prostate and at the opening of the bladder. This can reduce the severity of the symptoms.

Dosage & Administration:

Adults:

• High Blood Pressure: The usual initial dose is 1mg at bedtime. Your physician may slowly increase the dose until your blood pressure has been lowered sufficiently. The usual recommended dosage range is 1mg to 5mg taken once a day; however, some people may benefit from doses as high as 20 mg per day.
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: The starting dose is 1mg at bedtime. Your physician will gradually increase the dose to 10mg, taken once a day, usually for at least 4 to 6 weeks. A few men have needed a dose of 20mg a day. If you stop taking Terapress (Terazosin) for several days or longer, your physician will re-start your treatment with 1mg at bedtime.

Children: Safety and effectiveness of Terapress (Terazosin) in children have not been established.

You may take Terapress (Terazosin) with or without food. Take your first dose at bedtime. Do not take more than the 1 milligram your physician has prescribed.

Side Effects:

More common side effects:

• difficult or labored breathing
• dizziness
• headache
• heart palpitations
• light-headedness upon standing
• nausea
• pain in the arms and legs
• sleepiness
• stuffy nose
• swollen wrists and ankles
• weakness

Less common side effects:

• anxiety
• back pain
• blurred vision
• bronchitis
• conjunctivitis
• constipation
• decreased sex drive
• depression
• diarrhea
• dimmed vision
• dry mouth
• facial swelling
• fainting
• fever
• flu or cold symptoms (cough, sore throat, runny nose)
• fluid retention
• frequent urination
• impotence
• inability to hold urine
• increased heart rate
• indigestion
• inflamed sinuses
• insomnia
• irregular heartbeat
• itching
• joint pain
• low blood pressure
• muscle aches
• nasal inflammation
• nervousness
• nosebleed
• numbness or tingling
• painful lasting erection
• pain in the abdomen, chest, neck, or shoulder
• rash
• ringing in the ears
• severe allergic reaction
• sweating
• urinary tract infection
• vertigo
• vision changes
• vomiting
• weight gain

Precautions:

If Terapress (Terazosin) is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your physician before combining Terapress (Terazosin) with Motrin and Naprosyn, Dyazide, Vasotec, Calan, and Verelan.

Further Information:

The effects of Terapress (Terazosin) during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, notify your physician immediately. Terapress (Terazosin) is not recommended during pregnancy unless the benefit outweighs the potential risk to the unborn baby. It is not known whether Terapress (Terazosin) appears in breast milk. Because many drugs do appear in breast milk, your physician may advise you to stop breastfeeding until your treatment with this drug is finished.

When your blood pressure falls in response to Terapress (Terazosin), you may faint. Other less severe reactions include dizziness, heart palpitations, light-headedness, and drowsiness. You are also likely to feel dizzy or faint whenever you rise from a sitting or lying position; this should disappear as your body becomes accustomed to Terapress (Terazosin). If your occupation is such that these symptoms might cause serious problems, make sure your physician knows this from the start; he or she will increase your Terapress (Terazosin) dosage very cautiously. Regardless of your occupation, avoid driving, climbing, and other hazardous tasks at the following times:

• For 12 hours after your first dose of Terapress
• With each new dosage increase
• When you re-start Terapress after any treatment interruption

If you are taking Terapress for benign prostatic hyperplasia, remember that although Terapress helps relieve the symptoms of BPH, it does NOT change the size of the prostate, which may continue to grow. You may still need surgery in the future. In addition, it is possible to have BPH and prostate cancer at the same time. If you develop the side effect called priapism - a painful erection that last for hours - call your physician without delay. The condition can lead to impotence if not treated immediately.