Doxazosin belongs to a group of medicines called alpha blockers.
It's used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic enlargement).
Alpha blockers reduce blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels so blood can pass through them more easily.
Doxazosin helps to reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland by relaxing the muscle around the bladder and prostate gland so you can pee more easily.
This medicine is only available on prescription and comes as tablets.
Key facts
- You usually take doxazosin once a day. You can take it in the morning or evening, but it's best to take it at the same time every day.
- The main side effects of doxazosin are headaches, swollen feet, ankles or fingers, needing to pee suddenly or more often, or pain in your lower stomach (abdomen).
- Doxazosin can make you feel dizzy, or like you or everything around you is spinning (vertigo). If you feel dizzy, do not drive a car, ride a bike or use tools or machinery until you feel OK again.
- If you are due to have surgery, talk to the nurse or doctor at your pre-assessment appointment. They will tell you if you need to stop taking it before your operation.
- If you are taking medicines for erectile dysfunction, tell your doctor. Taking them with doxazosin may make you feel dizzy or light-headed.