Drug reference

Doxazosin

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 848, 849

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Hypertension ▶BY MOUTH USING IMMEDIATE-RELEASE MEDICINES ▶Adult: Initially 1 mg once daily for 1–2 weeks, then increased to 2 mg once daily, then increased if necessary to 4 mg once daily; maximum 16 mg per day ▶BY MOUTH USING MODIFIED-RELEASE MEDICINES ▶Adult: Initially 4 mg once daily, dose can be adjusted after 4 weeks, then increased if necessary to 8 mg once daily Benign prostatic hyperplasia ▶BY MOUTH USING IMMEDIATE-RELEASE MEDICINES ▶Adult: Initially 1 mg daily, dose may be doubled at intervals of 1–2 weeks according to response; usual maintenance 2–4 mg daily; maximum 8 mg per day ▶BY MOUTH USING MODIFIED-RELEASE MEDICINES ▶Adult: Initially 4 mg once daily, dose can be adjusted after 4 weeks, then increased if necessary to 8 mg once daily DOSE EQUIVALENCE AND CONVERSION ▶Patients stabilised on immediate-release doxazosin can be transferred to the equivalent dose of modiﬁed- release doxazosin.

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Contra Indications

History of micturition syncope (in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy). history of postural hypotension. monotherapy in patients with overﬂow bladder or anuria

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Cautions

Care with initial dose (postural hypotension). cataract surgery (risk of intra-operative ﬂoppy iris syndrome). elderly. heart failure. pulmonary oedema due to aortic or mitral stenosis

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Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: alpha blockers

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Side Effects

▶Common or very common Arrhythmias. asthenia. chest pain. cough. cystitis. dizziness. drowsiness. dry mouth. dyspnoea. gastrointestinal discomfort. headache. hypotension. increased risk of infection. inﬂuenza like illness. muscle complaints. nausea. oedema. pain. palpitations. skin reactions. urinary disorders. vertigo ▶Uncommon Angina pectoris. anxiety. appetite abnormal. arthralgia. constipation. depression. diarrhoea. gastrointestinal disorders. gout. haemorrhage. insomnia. myocardial infarction. sensation abnormal. sexual dysfunction. stroke. syncope. tinnitus. tremor. vomiting . weight increased ▶Rare or very rare Alopecia. bronchospasm. ﬂushing. gynaecomastia. hepatic disorders. leucopenia. malaise. muscle weakness. thrombocytopenia. vision blurred ▶Frequency not known Floppy iris syndrome

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Pregnancy

No evidence of teratogenicity; manufacturers advise use only when potential beneﬁt outweighs risk.

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Breast Feeding

Accumulates in milk in animal studies— manufacturer advises avoid.

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Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises caution in mild to moderate impairment (limited information available); avoid in severe impairment (no information available).

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Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order manufacturers include: capsule, oral suspension, oral solution Modified-release tablet CAUTIONARY AND ADVISORY LABELS 25 ▶Cardura XL (Upjohn UK Ltd) Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 4 mg Cardura XL 4mg tablets | 28 tablet P £5.00 DT = £5.00 Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 8 mg Cardura XL 8mg tablets | 28 tablet P £9.98 DT = £9.98 ▶Doxadura XL (Dexcel-Pharma Ltd) Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 4 mg Doxadura XL 4mg tablets | 28 tablet P £4.75 DT = £5.00 ▶Larbex XL (Teva UK Ltd) Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 4 mg Larbex XL 4mg tablets | 28 tablet P £6.08 DT = £5.00 ▶Raporsin XL (Actavis UK Ltd) Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 4 mg Raporsin XL 4mg tablets | 28 tablet P £5.70 DT = £5.00 ▶Slocinx XL (Zentiva) Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 4 mg Slocinx XL 4mg tablets | 28 tablet P £5.96 DT = £5.00 Tablet ▶Doxazosin (Non-proprietary) Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 1 mg Doxazosin 1mg tablets | 28 tablet P £10.56 DT = £0.97 Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 2 mg Doxazosin 2mg tablets | 28 tablet P £14.08 DT = £0.99 Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 4 mg Doxazosin 4mg tablets | 28 tablet P £14.08 DT = £1.17 Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 8 mg Doxazosin 8mg tablets | 28 tablet P £6.25–£8.25 DT = £6.25 ▶Cardura (Upjohn UK Ltd) Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 1 mg Cardura 1mg tablets | 28 tablet P £10.56 DT = £0.97 Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 2 mg Cardura 2mg tablets | 28 tablet P £14.08 DT = £0.99 ▶Doxadura (Dexcel-Pharma Ltd) Doxazosin (as Doxazosin mesilate) 4 mg Doxadura 4mg tablets | 28 tablet P £1.04 DT = £1.17

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Clinical care

Patient And Carer Advice

Patient counselling is advised for doxazosin tablets (initial dose). Driving and skilled tasks May affect performance of skilled tasks e.g. driving.

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Dose text by age group

Adult

Initially 1 mg once daily for 1–2 weeks, then

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

Initially 4 mg once daily, dose can be adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

Initially 1 mg daily, dose may be doubled at

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

Initially 4 mg once daily, dose can be adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 848

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Doxazosin

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 848, 849

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

PDF page 848

Contra Indications

History of micturition syncope (in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy). history of postural hypotension. monotherapy in patients with overﬂow bladder or anuria

PDF page 848

Cautions

Care with initial dose (postural hypotension). cataract surgery (risk of intra-operative ﬂoppy iris syndrome). elderly. heart failure. pulmonary oedema due to aortic or mitral stenosis

PDF page 848

Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: alpha blockers

PDF page 848

Side Effects

PDF page 848

Pregnancy

No evidence of teratogenicity; manufacturers advise use only when potential beneﬁt outweighs risk.

PDF page 849

Breast Feeding

Accumulates in milk in animal studies— manufacturer advises avoid.

PDF page 849

Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises caution in mild to moderate impairment (limited information available); avoid in severe impairment (no information available).

PDF page 849

Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 849

Clinical care

Patient And Carer Advice

Patient counselling is advised for doxazosin tablets (initial dose). Driving and skilled tasks May affect performance of skilled tasks e.g. driving.

PDF page 849

Dose text by age group

Adult

Initially 1 mg once daily for 1–2 weeks, then

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 848

Adult

Initially 4 mg once daily, dose can be adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 848

Adult

Initially 1 mg daily, dose may be doubled at

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 848

Adult

Initially 4 mg once daily, dose can be adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 848

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.