Prazosin for Prostate: Benefits and Risks You Need to Know

If you suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate gland, your doctor may prescribe a drug called prazosin to relieve the urinary symptoms you may be experiencing.

Prazosin is the generic name of a drug with the brand name Minipress, according to Drugs.com. It belongs to a group of drugs called alpha blockers that work by relaxing the blood vessels and the muscles around the tube that leads out of the bladder (urethra) so urine can pass freely. Besides treating BPH symptoms, prazosin is more commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure.

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According to the Mayo Clinic, prazosin does not shrink an enlarged prostate gland, it just helps relieve the urinary symptoms associated with it such as a weak urine stream, inability to empty the bladder, and an urgent need to urinate frequently. Further treatment of BPH, often surgery, may still be necessary if the condition continues to get worse.

Everyday Health cautions that patients may feel dizzy when they first begin taking prazosin because it produces a sudden drop in blood pressure. It also lists additional common but less serious side effects as:

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Nausea

If these more serious side effects occur, notify your physician immediately and stop taking prazosin:

• A painful erection that lasts for more than 4 hours
• Fast, pounding heartbeat
• Feeling like passing out
• Swelling in hands and feet
• Trouble breathing

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The Mayo Clinic advises that some medical conditions can be complicated further by taking prazosin. For example, it can cause complications during cataract eye surgery. Patients should also tell their doctor if they suffer from angina, heart or kidney disease, or a condition called postural hypotension before taking prazosin since this drug can cause some of these conditions to get worse.

As with any prescription drug, talk with your doctor about other medicines you are taking to avoid potential adverse drug interactions.

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