Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Hytrin

Generic Name: terazosin (Pronunciation: ter AY zo sin)

• What is terazosin (Hytrin)?
• What are the possible side effects of terazosin (Hytrin)?
• What is the most important information I should know about terazosin (Hytrin)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking terazosin (Hytrin)?
• How should I take terazosin (Hytrin)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Hytrin)?
• What happens if I overdose (Hytrin)?
• What should I avoid while taking terazosin (Hytrin)?
• What other drugs will affect terazosin (Hytrin)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is terazosin (Hytrin)?

Terazosin is in a group of drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers. Terazosin causes the blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax and expand, improving blood flow. Terazosin also relaxes muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.

Terazosin is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

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

Hytrin 1 mg

spherical, gray, imprinted with a, HH

Hytrin 10 mg

spherical, blue, imprinted with a, HN

Hytrin 2 mg

spherical, yellow, imprinted with a, HY

Hytrin 5 mg

spherical, red, imprinted with a, Hk

Terazosin 1 mg-GG

white, imprinted with GG 621

Terazosin 1 mg-MYL

lavender/yellow, imprinted with MYLAN 2260

Terazosin 1 mg-TEV

oval, white, imprinted with 60

Terazosin 10 mg-GG

green, imprinted with GG 624

Terazosin 10 mg-MYL

lavender, imprinted with MYLAN 1570

Terazosin 10 mg-TEV

oval, blue, imprinted with 63

Terazosin 2 mg-GG

yellow, imprinted with GG 622

Terazosin 2 mg-MYL

black/lavender, imprinted with MYLAN 2264

Terazosin 2 mg-TEV

oval, yellow, imprinted with 61

Terazosin 5 mg cap-GEN

pink, imprinted with GG 623

Terazosin 5 mg-MYL

gray/lavender, imprinted with MYLAN 2268

Terazosin 5 mg-TEV

oval, red, imprinted with 62

What are the possible side effects of terazosin (Hytrin)?

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

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast or pounding heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; or
• penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.

Less serious side effects may include:

• weakness;
• headache;
• numbness or tingly feeling;
• stuffy nose; or
• blurred vision.

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 terazosin (Hytrin)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to terazosin.

Before taking terazosin, tell your doctor if you use any other blood pressure medications, especially verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).

Terazosin lowers blood pressure and may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it, or when you start taking it again. To avoid falling, take the first dose of terazosin at bedtime. You may wish to continue taking this medication only at bedtime if it causes you to feel light-headed.

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

If you stopped taking terazosin for any reason and have started taking it again, you may feel especially dizzy or light-headed after your first few doses.

Terazosin can affect the pupils of your eyes during cataract surgery. If you have cataract surgery during your treatment with terazosin, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you take terazosin. Do not stop using the medication before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.