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Alpha Blockers

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The Alpha 2 antagonists have been used for decades to treat common medical conditions such as high blood pressure, hyperactivity disorder, symptoms of opioids, pain and panic disorders, benzodiazepines, and alcohol withdrawal. Alpha blocker drugs are also called alpha adrenergic blockers/antagonists. They treat conditions like high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These drugs relax the muscles and help small blood vessels to remain open. They prevent the hormone norepinephrine (noradrenaline) from contracting the muscles in the walls of smaller arteries and veins. Blocking that effect causes the vessels to remain open and relaxed. This improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure. 

Alpha antagonist drugs also help patients pass larger stones that may require surgical procedures. Although, these alpha blocker medications have an off-label use in the management. Therefore, alpha blockers for kidney stones should be used under the guidance of a doctor.    

What are Alpha-Blockers? 

Alpha blockers medication is sometimes used to manage and treat essential hypertension (high blood pressure). They are not typically prescribed as the first choice of medicine for hypertensive patients but are often used alongside other medicines. Alpha blockers for hypertension should be used under the supervision of a doctor. Hypertension is the biggest public health concern. It is increasingly recognized as a major cause of stroke, renal problems, and cardiovascular disease. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of heart complications. These medicines lower blood pressure by keeping the hormone norepinephrine from tightening the muscles in the walls of smaller arteries and veins. This allows blood vessels to remain open and relaxed to enhance blood flow and lower blood pressure.

Alpha-blockers also effectively treat problems with passing urine in men with prostate gland enlargement. Prostate gland enlargement is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A patient with an enlarged prostate often experiences problems with urine, such as a slow urinary stream, trouble starting urination, frequent urination, the urgency to urinate, waking up at night to urinate, etc. Because alpha-blockers cause the relaxation of muscles throughout the body, these drugs also help improve urine flow in older men with prostate issues. 

 

How do Alpha-Blockers work? 

Alpha-blockers are prescription drugs that affect the sympathetic nervous system and inhibit alpha receptors' action. These receptors are of two types: alpha 1 and alpha receptor 2:

  1. Alpha 1 receptors cause constriction of the vessels when activated by hormones produced by epinephrine and norepinephrine by your adrenal glands, leading to a decrease in blood circulation and an increase in blood pressure.
  1. Alpha 2 receptors are present on certain nerve endings. These receptors inhibit the production of norepinephrine when activated. Norepinephrine maintains the blood flow by constriction and dilation of blood vessels.

 

Examples of Alpha-Blockers  

Alpha-blocker medicines are either short-acting or long-acting. Short-acting drugs work quickly, but their effects last only a few hours. On the other hand, long-acting drugs take longer to act, but their effects last longer. The alpha-blocker that suits you depends on your health and treated condition. Examples of such medicines that are used to treat high blood pressure include:

  • Once-daily preparations of doxazosin are usually recommended for patients using alpha blockers for hypertension. The once-daily formulation is generally easier for people to take and remember the dose; Prazosin must be taken twice to three times daily. It is associated with a large drop in blood pressure after taking the first dose.
  • Once-daily preparations of Tamsulosin (Urimax 0.4 mg) or a combination of Tamsulosin and Dutasteride (Veltam Plus 0.4mg 0.5 mg) are generally recommended for treating prostate gland enlargement. Once-daily formulation causes fewer side effects than medicines that must be taken up to three times daily. The decision to start alpha-blocker medicines depends on how much you are bothered by the symptoms. Your doctor will help you decide what treatment is right for you.  

The decision to use this drug in treatment usually depends on whether the symptoms are very annoying. 

 

What is the duration of treatment?

  • Most people with high blood pressure must take these medicines for the rest of their lives. However, medications may be stopped under a doctor's supervision when blood pressure is adequately controlled for three years or more. Particularly, those who have made significant changes to their lifestyle, such as having lost the extra weight, stopped smoking, or heavy drinking, may achieve normal blood pressure levels. Your doctor can advise you further.
  • Alpha blocker drugs are usually taken long-term for patients with an enlarged prostate gland. Doctors usually review symptoms every 4 to 6 weeks after initiating the treatment. Once your symptoms are reduced, your treatment is usually reviewed every year. This is important to make sure the medicine is still in your system.  

 

Taking other Medicines with Alpha-Blockers

Several drugs should usually be avoided if you have been prescribed alpha-blocker treatment. These include Sildenafil for erectile dysfunction and antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants, venlafaxine, or mirtazapine. When any of this medicine is combined with an alpha-blocker, you may experience a sudden drop in blood pressure. 

 

Side Effects and Contraindications 

When you begin treatment with alpha-blocker drugs, you might develop low blood pressure and dizziness, making you faint when standing in a sitting or lying position. Due to this, the first dose is often taken at bedtime. Other alpha-blockers side effects include headache, weakness, dizziness, and a pounding heartbeat.  

  • Alpha blocker medicines are frequently prescribed in the elderly male population, and toxicity is common in these individuals. The most common side effects include orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, nasal congestion, reflex tachycardia, and headache.
  • Fluid retention is also a problem associated with the use of alpha-blockers. However, the side effect can be resolved by using a diuretic with the alpha-blocker.
  • Alpha adrenergic blockers are ineffective in heart failure or angina patients and should not be used in these conditions.
  • These drugs are contraindicated in individuals with hypersensitivity to alpha-blockers or other formulation components.
  • Caution should be taken when using these drugs in elderly patients or the case of previous cataract surgery. These drugs can complicate cataract surgery by inducing sudden pupil constriction during the surgery.  

Preventing the unwanted effects of medications on the elderly requires special care and communication between doctors and nurses. Alpha-blockers can have significant interactions with other medicines and have similar side effects. The administration of these medicines requires close supervision of a doctor to prevent side effects, especially in older people.

 

Are alpha-blockers safe to use?

Alpha-blockers are generally safe when used under a doctor’s guidance. Caution should be used when starting older adults on alpha-blockers. This group has multiple risk factors that make orthostatic hypotension, a common side effect of alpha-blockers, a concern.

What is the best time to take alpha-blockers?

Your doctor will recommend the best time to take alpha-blockers. Alpha-blockers are not the first-line treatments for high blood pressure. Instead, they are prescribed in combination with other drugs, such as diuretics, when high blood pressure is hard to control. Treatment may vary from person to person; it depends on an individual’s condition and response to treatment.

Which medical treatment is effective in men with BPH?

Medication is the most common treatment for men with mild to moderate symptoms of prostate enlargement. In mild to moderate cases, alpha-blockers relax bladder neck muscles and muscle fibres in the prostate, making urination easier for moderate to severe cases and where medication hasn’t relieved your symptoms.

How to take Urimax for BPH?

Urimax should be taken approximately half an hour following the meal every day. It is best to use this medicine exactly as advised by the doctor.

What are the common alpha-blockers?

Tamsulosin, Doxazosin, Prazosin, and Alfuzosin are the common alpha blockers.

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