Alpha blockers are one form of medication used to treat high blood pressure. A certain hormone in the body, noradrenaline, stimulates the muscles in the walls of the veins and arteries, causing them to constrict. This constriction can in turn lead to high blood pressure. Alpha blockers work to combat the effect of noradrenaline by relaxing the muscles in the veins and arteries, allowing them to remain open rather than narrowed. This helps to control high blood pressure.
Alpha blockers are categorized into either short-acting or long-acting forms. The short-acting alpha blockers work much faster than the long-acting ones, but the relief lasts for a short period of time-usually just a few hours. Short-acting alpha blockers are sometimes used before surgeries or in emergency situations. Long-acting alpha blockers, on the other hand, take up to a day or two to begin working, but the effects last longer.
Some commonly-prescribed alpha blockers on the market today include (generic terms are parenthesized):
? Doxazosin (cardura)
? Pazosin (minipress)
? Terazosin (hytrin)
? Phentalomine (rogitine)
? Tamsulosin (flomaxtra/flomax). Tasulosin is generally reserved for prostate patients as it has little effect on blood pressure.
Side Effects and Warnings
Alpha blockers are usually not prescribed as a first choice of treatment as recent studies have shown that solely using alpha blockers to control high blood pressure can actually raise a person’s chances of developing heart disease or other heart problems, such as heart attacks. Because high blood pressure often requires its patients to be on medication for an extended period of time, alpha blockers are generally not used to treat blood pressure alone.
Many times, alpha blockers cause a “first-dose effect,” meaning those who begin taking alpha blockers may experience low blood pressure or dizziness. This can sometimes lead to fainting spells when standing or sitting up.
Alpha blockers are extremely effective in lowering blood pressure. So effective, in fact, that they can often lower blood pressure more than necessary, leading to the first-dose effect. After taking the first dose of an alpha blocker, patients should avoid driving, operating machinery, or anything else that could cause harm or injury for at least 24 hours.
The dizziness and fainting spells that are common with first-time alpha blocker users is increased when patients drink alcohol, exercise or do anything strenuous, or stand for long periods of time. Most doctors recommend patients greatly reduce alcohol consumption and remain cautious when exposed to such conditions.
Some of the more common side effects of alpha blockers include:
? Headaches
? Rapid, pounding heartbeat
? Weight gain
? Increase in HDL (“bad”) cholesterol
? Nausea and vomiting
? Feeling of weakness
? Dizziness
? Fainting spells
? Lightheadedness
As with any medication, it’s important that you don’t just stop taking alpha blockers. This could make the condition worse. Discuss any side effects you are experiencing with your doctor. Patients who experience fainting, an irregular heartbeat, swollen feet, or difficulty breathing should contact their doctor as soon as possible to discuss any health problems that might occur as a result of the alpha blockers. Sometimes, the benefits of the alpha blockers will outweigh the side effects and you will remain on the medication. Other times, the dosage will be adjusted or medication will be changed to something more agreeable to the body.
While alpha blockers are definitely an effective means of lowering blood pressure, they are not designed to be used as a sole means of lowering blood pressure or to be used for long periods of time, as studies have shown this can actually increase a person’s chance of developing life-threatening heart diseases. As a result, alpha blockers are usually used as a last resort.