Obstructive urinary problems:

Saturday, 30 April 2005 13:18
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Alpha-blockers: useful for urge incontinence and in cases of prostate enlargement; they reduce the tone of smooth muscles in the urethra, decreasing urethral resistance and relieving symptoms of obstruction.

 

Examples include: Doxazosin (Cardura), Terazosin (Hytrin), Tamsulosin (Flomax). Side-effects include: drowsiness, dizziness, postural hypotension (drop in blood pressure on standing up), depression, headache, dry mouth, nausea, rhinitis (runny nose), urinary frequency and incontinence, erectile disorders, palpitations.

They should not be used in patients with low blood pressure and micturition syncope (fainting when passing urine).