What is Doxazosin and what is used for: Doxazosin is a medicine that belongs to a class of medicines known as alpha-blockers. It is used for the treatment of high blood pressure, or the symptoms due to prostate gland enlargement in men. This medicine acts by relieving the muscle around the bladder exit and prostate gland allowing urine to pass more easily. Do not take Doxazosin : If you are allergic toDoxazosin, or any of the ingredients inthis medicine. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. If you have an enlarged prostate gland and also have hypotension (low blood pressure). If you suffer from overflow incontinence (you cannot feel the urge to pass urine), or anuria (not urinating) with or without kidney disorders. If you have previously experienced orthostatic hypotension which is a type of low blood pressure that makes you to feel dizzy upon standing up from sitting or lying down. If you suffer from an enlarged prostate gland with one of the following: any kind of congestion or obstruction in your urinary tract, bladder stones or a chronic infection of the urinary tract. Warnings and precautions: Stop the medication right away and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you develop allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, skin rash, swelling of the face or neck, decreased blood pressure and dizziness. Talk to your doctor before starting this medicine if you have any of the following health problems; liver or heart problem, Talk to your eye doctor before starting this medicine if you have a planned eye surgery because of cataract, since this medicine may lead to complications during the surgery which can be prevented or treated if your doctor is already prepared. Your doctor may ask for tests before you start your treatment in order to rule out any other health problems like prostate cancer. This medicine may very rarely cause persistent painful erections. Talk to your doctor right away if this happens. This medicine may cause dizziness or faintness due to low blood pressure, upon getting up from sitting or lying down. If you feel dizzy, make sure that you sit or lie down until you feel better and avoid situations where you might fall or hurt yourself. Your doctor may recommend monitoring your blood pressure on a regular basis at the start of therapy to decrease the chance of these side effects. This medicine is not recommended in children less than 18 years of age as safety and effectiveness have not been established yet in this population. Possible side effects: Common side effects include dizziness, feeling of spinning or rotation of surroundings(vertigo), headache, low blood pressure, indigestion, heartburn, dry mouth, swelling of feet, ankles or fingers, nasal stuffiness, sneezing and/or runny nose caused by inflammation of the lining of the nose (rhinitis), flu-like symptoms, urinary tract infection, urinary incontinence (inability to control passing urine), inflammation of bladder (cystitis) Sleepiness, general weakness, itching, stomach/abdominal pains, feeling/being sick, back pain, painful muscles, chest cold, coughing, respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs) infection. Other medicines and Doxazosin : Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medications including prescription medicines, over the counter medicines, herbals, vitamins and supplements. If you are taking medicines known as PDE 5 inhibitors used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (impotence) e.g.Sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil. If you are taking other medicines used to treat high blood pressure. If you are taking medicines used to treat bacterial or fungal infections, e.g.Clarithromycin, itraconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole, telithromycin. If you are taking medicines used to treat HIV eg. Indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir. If you are taking Nefazodone (used to treat depression). Talk to your healthcare provider if you are not sure if the medicine you are taking is listed above. Keep a list of the medicines that you take and take it with you during your visits to your healthcare provider. Make sure that you do not start new medicines without talking to your healthcare provider first. How to take Doxazosin: The recommended dose is one tablet orally once a day. If you are taking this medicine for the first time, the usual recommended dose is 1 mg orally daily. Your doctor may increase the dose after a few weeks to 2 mg or 4 mg once daily. In some cases, your doctor may increase the dose to a maximum of 8 mg once daily if you are taking it for prostate enlargement, or to a maximum of 16 mg if you are being treated for high blood pressure. Take the medicine in the morning or the evening. Take the medicine at the same time every day with a glass of water. Take the medicine with or without food. Take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor or by following the days and arrows on the blister foil. Do not change the dose or stop taking the medicine without first talking with your doctor. How to store Doxazosin : Keep out of the reach of children and pets Store Doxazosin below 30° Do not use beyond the expiry date mentioned on the box Keep medication in its original container (tightly closed) to protect it from moisture and light Do not dispose medication in the wastewater or household waste