2.5.4 Alpha-adrenoceptor blocking drugs
| Choice | Drug |
|---|
| 1st choice | Doxazosin tablets 1mg, 2mg, 4mg
(immediate release tablets) |
| |
Prescribing Notes
- Refer to NICE NG136 hypertension
- Alpha-blockers are a fourth-line agent in the treatment of hypertension. Doxazosin should be used with caution in patients with heart failure, impaired left ventricular function or coronary artery disease.
- Doxazosin may cause postural hypotension and first dose hypotension. Treatment should be initiated at the lowest possible dose.
- Immediate release doxazosin has a long half-life and is taken as a single daily dose. Doxazosin m/r formulations are generally more expensive than the immediate release formulation with no clinical advantage and are therefore not recommended. Do not start new patients on doxazosin m/r; review existing patients for a switch to immediate release – see switch SOP on primary care intranet.
