Hytrin Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Hytrin Capsule contains terazosin hydrochloride, an alpha-1-selective adrenoceptor blocking agent. It is used to treat mild to moderate high blood pressure and the urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, enlarged prostate). It works by relaxing blood vessels and the smooth muscle of the bladder neck and prostate. Common effects include dizziness and headache, and it carries specific warnings about sudden blood pressure drops, especially with the first dose.

What is Hytrin Capsule

Hytrin is an alpha-blocker medicine that relaxes blood vessels and the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier for blood to flow and easier to urinate.

Hytrin Capsule uses

• Treatment of mild to moderate hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Treatment of symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, enlarged prostate)
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Difficulty starting urination
• Weak urine stream

Benefits of Hytrin Capsule

• Lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels
• Improves urine flow and reduces BPH symptoms such as hesitancy, weak stream, and nighttime urination, often within 2 weeks
• Helps improve urine flow in BPH
• Reduces difficulty starting urination
• Can reduce urinary frequency and urgency
• Helps lower high blood pressure

How Hytrin Capsule works

Hytrin blocks alpha-1 receptors, which relaxes blood vessel walls to lower blood pressure, and relaxes the smooth muscle of the bladder neck and prostate to ease urine flow.

Hytrin Capsule dosage

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor; do not take more or less than directed. The starting dose is usually taken at bedtime to reduce the chance of dizziness or fainting. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose over time based on how you respond. Food has little or no effect on how well the medicine is absorbed, though it may delay how quickly it reaches peak levels.

If you need to get out of bed at night, get up slowly and carefully until you know how the medicine affects you. Get up slowly from sitting or lying down at any time of day to avoid dizziness. If you stop taking it for several days, talk to your doctor before restarting; you may need to begin again at the lowest starting dose. Keep taking this medicine even if you feel well, since high blood pressure often has no symptoms. If a dose is missed, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose; do not double up.

Available forms and strengths

Tablet (1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg strengths)

Side effects of Hytrin Capsule

Common

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Weakness/tiredness (asthenia)
• Drowsiness or sleepiness
• Nasal congestion
• Palpitations
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision
• Swelling in hands, ankles, or feet
• Decreased sex drive
• Impotence

Serious

• Sudden drop in blood pressure or fainting, especially after the first dose
• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• Painful erection lasting 4 hours or more (priapism)
• Allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Chest pain
• Severe dizziness or feeling like you might pass out
• Unusual bruising or increased bleeding after a cut
• Shortness of breath
• Depression

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can cause a sudden, marked drop in blood pressure and fainting, especially with the first dose or first few doses, or if treatment is restarted after a break.
• Do not use this medicine if you have a history of fainting related to urination (micturition syncope).
• Using this medicine together with erectile dysfunction medicines like sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil can cause a significant drop in blood pressure.
• This medicine can affect the pupil during cataract surgery, a condition called Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome. Tell your eye surgeon you are taking this medicine before surgery.
• This medicine does not treat or rule out prostate cancer. Men should be checked for prostate cancer before and during treatment, since BPH and prostate cancer can cause similar symptoms and occur together.
• Taking this medicine with verapamil may cause low blood pressure and a fast heartbeat.
• Rarely, this medicine can cause a painful, prolonged erection that is a medical emergency and can cause permanent erectile problems if not treated quickly.
• The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established. It should only be used in pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the mother and baby.
• It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Because it could affect a nursing baby, talk to your doctor before breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
• Use in patients with reduced kidney function requires careful monitoring, although studies suggest kidney problems do not significantly change how the drug is processed by the body.
• There is no information on using this medicine in people with liver problems, so caution is advised.
• Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of this medicine, such as dizziness.
• Avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, or doing hazardous tasks for 12 hours after your first dose, after a dose increase, or after restarting treatment, until you know how the medicine affects you.

Storage

• HYTRIN tablets should be stored at controlled room temperature between 15 and 25ºC.
• Store Hytrin at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
• Keep HYTRIN and all other medicines out of reach of children.
• Do not take your tablets after the expiry date shown on the label.
• It is important to keep the HYTRIN in the original package.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have a fast, pounding, or fluttering heartbeat; feel like you might pass out; have swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; or have a painful erection lasting 4 hours or longer.
• If you faint, lie down and get supportive care right away.
• If you think you or someone else has taken too much of this medicine, contact your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital with the tablets, and treat even a small overdose seriously.
• Call your doctor if you have a prolonged illness causing vomiting or diarrhea, since this can make your blood pressure drop too low.

Alternatives

• Tamsulosin
• Alfuzosin
• Silodosin