Cardura Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Cardura Tablet (doxazosin) is a prescription alpha-blocker medicine that relaxes smooth muscles in the blood vessels, prostate, and bladder. It is used to treat high blood pressure and symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia). It comes as a tablet and an extended-release tablet taken by mouth. The extended-release version, Cardura XL, is approved only for enlarged prostate symptoms and is not used for high blood pressure.

What is Cardura Tablet

Cardura is a prescription alpha-blocker medicine that relaxes smooth muscles in the blood vessels, prostate, and bladder. Its generic name is doxazosin, and it comes as a tablet taken by mouth.

Cardura Tablet uses

• Treats high blood pressure (hypertension), either alone or combined with other blood pressure medicines
• Treats symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) by easing urination

Note: the extended-release version, Cardura XL, is approved only for BPH and is not used for high blood pressure.

Benefits of Cardura Tablet

• Relaxes and widens arteries and veins so blood flows more easily, which lowers blood pressure
• Relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate and reducing urinary blockage

How Cardura Tablet works

Cardura blocks alpha receptors, which relaxes muscles in blood vessel walls so blood pressure goes down, and also relaxes muscles in the prostate and bladder to improve urine flow.

Cardura Tablet dosage

Take by mouth at the same time every day, as directed on your prescription label. It can be taken with or without food; if it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop, even if you feel well, since high blood pressure often has no symptoms.

Do not chew, cut, or crush extended-release tablets. Extended-release tablets should be taken with breakfast each day, at the same time, to help the medicine work well.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and do not double up. If you stop taking it for several days in a row, check with your doctor before starting again, since you may need a lower dose. Talk to your care team about use in children, as special care may be needed.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet
• Extended-release tablet

Side effects of Cardura Tablet

Common

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue or feeling weak or tired
• Headache
• Weakness
• Drowsiness
• Low blood pressure, especially when standing up

Serious

• Allergic reaction: skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing
• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness in the chest, neck, back, or arms (possible sign of a heart problem)
• Severe dizziness, feeling faint, or fainting, or blurry vision from low blood pressure
• A painful erection lasting 4 hours or longer (priapism)
• Severe ongoing stomach pain or bloating

Warnings and precautions

• A sharp drop in blood pressure can happen shortly after your first dose or after a dose increase, which may cause dizziness or fainting. Doctors often suggest taking the first dose at bedtime.
• If you are having cataract or other eye surgery, tell your eye surgeon beforehand that you take or have taken this medicine, because it can cause a condition that affects the iris during surgery.
• Rarely, this medicine can cause a painful erection lasting longer than 4 hours, which needs emergency medical care to prevent permanent damage.
• Combining this medicine with erectile dysfunction drugs or other blood pressure medicines can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
• Research has suggested this medicine may double the risk of congestive heart failure compared with another blood pressure drug, so experts generally do not recommend it as a first-choice treatment for high blood pressure.
• It is not known whether doxazosin could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant so they can decide if it's right for you.
• It isn't known for certain whether doxazosin passes into breast milk in meaningful amounts or could affect a nursing baby, so talk with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
• The usual adult dose is recommended for people with kidney problems, since this does not change how the drug is processed, and it is not removed by dialysis.
• People with liver problems may be at higher risk of side effects like low blood pressure, and this medicine should be used with extra caution if your liver isn't working well.
• Drinking alcohol while taking this medicine can increase the risk of dizziness and other side effects.
• This medicine can affect coordination, reaction time, and judgment, especially after your first dose, after a dose increase, or in hot weather or during exercise. Don't drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F)
• Throw away any unused medication after the expiration date
• Keep out of the reach of children and pets
• Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture and heat
• Do not store above 30°C

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away for signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you feel like you might pass out, have severe ongoing stomach pain or bloating, new or worsening chest pain, or trouble breathing.
• Seek emergency care right away for an erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.
• If you think you've taken too much of this medicine, get emergency medical help right away.

Alternatives

• Silodosin
• Alfuzosin
• Terazosin
• Tamsulosin