Hytrin

Hytrin:

You have a condition known as prostatism. This condition is caused by
the enlargement of the prostate gland, encumbering the urethra (urine tube
leading from the bladder) .The prostate is the male reproductive gland that
produces the ejaculate (produced during orgasm). This gland encircles the
urethra at the base of the bladder. As a natural process of aging, the
prostate gland enlarges in a condition called benign prostatic hypertrophy.
This hypertrophy. or enlargement, causes a series of symptoms known as
prostatism. These symptoms include voiding frequently at night, urinary
frequency during the daytime, urgency to void, postvoid dribbling, small
urinary stream, a sense of incomplete voiding, etc.

There are a variety of treatments available to treat prostatism, especially if
addressed when the symptoms are mild. One of these treatments is the
use of the drug Hytrln (the generic is called terazosin). This medication is a
member of a class of drugs used to treat high blood pressure. It was
discovered that the drug causes relaxation of the smooth muscles located
within the prostate and the neck or bottom of the bladder. Similar smooth
muscles are present in the arteries of the body and by relaxing these
arteries, Hytrin causes a lowering of the blood pressure.

Men who have prostatism, take advantage of the drug's effects to relax the
muscle within and above the prostate to partially
increase the functional channel width of the urethra.

Most often, the medicine is administered once a day, usually at bedtime.
Often a 1 milligram dose is what is started first, since it is the minimal
amount available.

Known adverse effects of this medication include fainting, decrease in
blood pressure when going from a flat position to a sitting or a standing
position, headaches, racing heart, decreased appetite, swelling of the legs,
dry mouth, nasal congestion and dizziness. Although it is unlikely you will
experience any of these side effects, it is important that you know they
exist so that it they do occur , you can take the appropriate steps to identify
their source.

By far the most common side effect of this medication is a feeling of
lightheadedness when going from laying flat in bed to standing up. Since a
patient with prostatism will often get up at night to go to the restroom. It is
important that some precautions be made to avoid the lightheadedness
progressing to fainting. When arising from bed at night or first thing in the
morning, sit up on the side of the bed and allow one minute to pass. Once
that minute has elapsed, stand up beside the bed and allow an additional
half minute to one minute to pass. If no sensation of lightheadedness is
encountered, proceed to walk. As is noted above, most men experience no
side effects with the use of the medication; however, to make sure that no
problems are unexpectedly encountered, please use this method in arising
from bed during the first week of the use of the medication and at any time
that the medication dosage is changed.

If you should experience any unpleasant side effects or those noted above,
please stop the medication and discuss them during your next regularly
scheduled office visit unless an emergency situation arises.

If the medication works, you will likely need to take it lifelong or until
another therapy is selected. If the medication does not work in a minimal
dose, increasing the dosage will be done carefully and under observation.

If you should have any questions, please write them down and address
them when you see the physician next.

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