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Cardura XL

side effects drug center cardura xl (doxazosin mesylate extended release tablets) drug - patient side effects and images

Cardura XL Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Cardura, Cardura XL

Generic Name: doxazosin

What is doxazosin (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Doxazosin is an alpha-adrenergic (AL-fa ad-ren-ER-jik) blockers. Doxazosin relaxes your veins and arteries so that blood can more easily pass through them. It also relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.

Doxazosin is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), or to improve urination in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

The extended-release form of doxazosin (Cardura XL) is for use only in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and should not be used to treat hypertension.

Doxazosin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of doxazosin (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • severe ongoing stomach pain or bloating;
  • new or worsening chest pain;
  • trouble breathing; or
  • a penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.

Common side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about doxazosin (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Cardura XL Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking doxazosin (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to doxazosin or similar medicines such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), prazosin (Minipress), silodosin (Rapaflo), tamsulosin (Flomax), or terazosin (Hytrin).

To make sure doxazosin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • a blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines);
  • severe constipation;
  • liver disease; or
  • low blood pressure.

Doxazosin can affect your pupils during cataract surgery. Tell your eye surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medication. Do not stop using doxazosin before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether doxazosin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

How should I take doxazosin (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Doxazosin lowers blood pressure and may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it, or when you start taking it again.

You may feel very dizzy when you first wake up. Be careful when standing or sitting up from a lying position.

Call your doctor if you have severe dizziness or feel like you might pass out.

While using doxazosin, your blood pressure or prostate may need to be checked often.

If you stop taking doxazosin for any reason, ask your doctor before you start taking it again. You may need a dose adjustment.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Cardura XL Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

If you miss your doses for several days in a row, call your doctor before restarting the medication. You may need a lower dose.

What happens if I overdose (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme dizziness or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking doxazosin (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Doxazosin may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

To prevent dizziness, avoid standing for long periods of time or becoming overheated during exercise and in hot weather.

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

What other drugs will affect doxazosin (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with doxazosin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information (Cardura, Cardura XL)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about doxazosin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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