Jul
16
Alpha Blockers
July 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Type of Drug
Alpha Blockers
Brand Names
Generic Ingredient. Alfuzosin Uroxatral
Generic Ingredient: Terazosin Hydrochloride Hytrin
Prescribed For
High blood pressure (terazosin) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (alfuzosin and terazosin).
General Information
Alpha blockers block nerve endings known as alpha, receptors. They reduce blood pressure by dilating (widening) and reducing pressure within the blood vessels. The maximum blood-pressurelowering effect of terazosin is seen between 2 and 6 hours after taking a single dose. Terazosin’s effect lasts for 24 hours.
In BPH, alpha blockers work by relaxing smooth muscles in the prostate and neck of the bladder. This effect is produced by blockage of alpha, receptors in the affected muscles. Despite the fact that terazosin alleviates the urinary symptoms of BPH, the drug’s long-term effect on complications of BPH or the need for urinary surgery is not known. Alpha blockers are broken down in the liver.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take alpha blockers if you are allergic or sensitive to any of their ingredients.
Alpha blockers may cause dizziness and fainting, especially after the first few doses. This is known as the “first-dose effect” and may be minimized by limiting the first dose to 1 mg at bedtime. The first-dose effect occurs in about 1 % of people and may recur if the drug is stopped for a few days and then restarted.
Do not take alfuzosin if you have moderate to severe liver disease since this can drastically increase blood concentrations of the drug.
Alpha blockers should be taken with caution if you have kidney disease, since blood concentrations may be increased by 50%.
Do not take these medicines if you are already taking an alphablocker for either high blood pressure or prostate problems.
Terazosin may slightly reduce cholesterol levels and improve the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ratio, a positive step for people with blood-cholesterol problems.
Terazosin may reduce the counts of red and white blood cells.
People taking terazosin may experience a weight gain of about 2 lbs.
Possible Side Effects
Alfuzosin
✓ Most common: dizziness, fatigue, upper respiratory infection, and headache.
✓ Less common: pain, abdominal pain, upset stomach, constipation, nausea, impotence, bronchitis, sinusitis, sore throat, low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.
✓ Rare: rash, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, and painful and persistent erection. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Terazosin
✓ Most common: dizziness, weakness, and headache.
✓ Rare: depression, reduced sex drive or abnormal sexual function (including painful and persistent erection), fluid retention, and weight gain. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Drug Interactions
• When taken with other blood-pressure-lowering drugs, terazosin severely reduces blood pressure.
• Verapamil may increase blood levels of terazosin.
• Antifungal drugs such as itraconazole and ketoconazole and protease inhibitors interfere with the breakdown of alfuzosin in the liver, raising the amount of drug in the blood.
• Alfuzosin moderately increases the amount of diltiazem in the blood.
• Alpha blockers should not be taken with ritonavir.
Food Interactions
Alfuzosin should be taken with food.
Usual Dose
Alfuzosin: one 10-mg tablet taken after the same meal every day. Do not crush or chew the tablets.
Terazosin: starting dosage-1 mg at bedtime. Dosage may be increased in increments of 1-5 mg to a total of 20 mg a day. Dosages of 10 mg a day are generally needed to control the symptoms of BPH.
Overdosage
Symptoms may include drowsiness, poor reflexes, and very low blood pressure. Take the victim to a hospital emergency room. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
Take alpha blockers exactly as they are prescribed and do not stop taking it unless directed to do so by your doctor. Avoid over-the-counter drugs that contain stimulants because they may increase your blood pressure.
Alpha blockers may cause dizziness, headache, and drowsiness, especially 2-6 hours after taking your first dose, though these effects may persist after the first few doses. Wait 12-24 hours after taking the first dose before driving, operating machinery, or performing any other task that requires intense concentration. You may take alpha blockers at bedtime to minimize this problem.
Some people undergoing eye surgery who take alpha blockers can experience an unusual effect called “floppy iris syndrome.” Make sure to tell your eye surgeon if you are taking or have ever been treated with an alpha blocker. There is no benefit to stopping alpha-blocker treatment before cataract surgery.
Prostate cancer and BPH may have similar symptoms. Talk to your doctor about ruling out prostate cancer before beginning treatment for BPH.
Call your doctor if you develop severe dizziness, heart palpitations, or any bothersome or persistent side effect.
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the forgotten dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: Alfuzosin is not indicated for use in women. Large dosages of terazosin damage the fetus in animal studies. When alpha blockers are considered crucial by your doctor, their potential benefits must be carefully weighed against their risks.
It is not known if terazosin passes into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take this drug should use infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors may be more sensitive to the effects of terazosin.
Jul
14
PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS.
July 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment
PROSTATE CANCER
SUPPORT GROUPS
Drug addicts do it, alcoholics do it, over eaters do it, and now all around the country there are springing up Prostate Cancer Support Groups accutane and back acne and picture . Good diltiazem combination therapy .
These groups serve men who have had prostate cancer, have had operations for it, are waiting for operations, or are waiting to see how tests come out the elements in asprin .
Most of these groups are run by laymen or women, who get groups of concerned people together to network, to talk about mutual problems, talk about treatments and methods and simply how to cope with cancer of the prostate captopril and low blood pressure .
Some of them invite others with cancer beside prostate discount depression medications prozac .
We know of two physicians who lead such groups testosterone cream therapy and weight gain . One is Dr lithium a23 . Roy E xatral 10 mg alfuzosin hcl drugs . Berger, MD from Smithtown, New York use of plavix after a stroke . The other is Dr antibiotic shelf life cipro . Israel Barken in San Diego the drug imodium .
Dr zocor and neuropathy . Barken explained how his group got started drug tests explained testosterone . He had heard about other groups around the country and decided it was time for him to get one going in San Diego cymbalta for neuorpathy .
He photo copied some flyers and put them in the city libraries, handed them out to his patients and did a little spreading of the word battery 3.6v lithium aa size .
On the day of the meeting fifteen men showed up isosorbide recall . He had the first meeting on the Saturday after Good Friday avandia institute . He said this might have some special significance dystonic reaction to geodon .
To start off that first meeting Dr combined copper testosterone . Barken told the men to take out their calenders and mark the Saturday after Good Friday ten years from that day online cialis dreampharmaceuticalscom . They would have a reunion that day in the year two thousand 2007 caffeine addictions . All of the men in the room were between 65 and 80 years old prednisone bad acne .
Everyone got excited, they jumped out of their seats and said “I’ll be there triamcinolone acetonide cream uses . I promise that I’ll be there true caffeine stories .” They all made the promise that they would meet there in ten years on the day after Good Friday medications like lamisil .
To get the meeting going, the men stood one at a time and told the others what cancer he had and the treatment and how he felt at that time price of accutane at costco .
They watched a video by Dr lithium tool combo reviews . Bernard Siegel, “Love, Miracles and Medicine” and talked about it aricept langosh . Then they decided that they would meet every other month instead of every three months natural thyroid vs synthroid .
During the second meeting they all introduced themselves again and told what cancer they had so everyone could get better acquainted avoiding yoghurt while on warfarin . At this session the group decided to make a list of subjects and problems that they would talk about in the next few meetings wellbutrin snorting .
One of the men volunteered to help get out the mailing notices for every meeting and keep track of the lists and do the work to keep the group going caffeine quantities in pop .
About half of the men there were patients of Dr free omeprazole . Barken and the other half were not cetirizine effects on pregnany . They decided to talk about specific problems that the prostate cancer caused them such as sexual functioning and incontinence indications for albuterol sulfate .
This led to the idea that they should define the goal of the group effects of caffeine on weight . Just what was its purpose and what did they want to accomplish? One of the goals they established was to educate the public about prostate cancer and how to detect it ziac and anxiety .
The group decided to invite the men’s wives to the meetings since they were affected by the disease amoxycillin uk . Someone suggested that they have a list of phone numbers that a cancer patient could call to talk with other patients when it came time for him to decide which kind of treatment he wanted vytorin muscle damage .
Dr switching from nexium . Barken said the meetings so far had been great successes minocycline for lyme . The men stayed around in the hallway after the meeting talking to each other and exchanging information and experiences sildenafil in 24 hours . One interesting element was that the men brought clippings from newspapers and magazines about prostate cancer treatments and cures to see what Dr can celebrex cause a kidney problem . Barken thought of them meloxicam contra-indicated supplments .
The group decided to form a political action committee so they could send letters to their government officials about various problems the cancer patient had dealing with Medicare caffeine free orange soda . For example they said Medicare won’t pay for rectal ultrasound, an often used cancer test ibuprofen soft gelatin capsules .
Dr amiloride 5 mg . Barken said the first two meetings proved to be highly beneficial to the participants purchase imitrex online . The idea of sharing problems and solutions and ways of working around misfortunes had a strongly positive effect on the members citalopram hbr 10mg .
He said the meetings were definitely not crying sessions metformin and viagra . The men who attended came away with a good mental attitude cymbalta migraine triptan . Dr shaking in toddler on nebulizer albuterol . Barken said the group agreed to have speakers at some of the meetings, and at others share and talk and network and do some good mental therapy celexa with acohol .
Dr coreg doses . Barken said he was pleased with the group sessions and plans to continue them lithium ion battery 3 7v . He indicated it was a good place for the men to let off steam, and talk about their disease with others who could understand them effexor side effects withdrawal .