2.5.3 Adrenergic neurone blocking drugs

For Dudley Hypertension Pathway click here  or the Dudley Hypertension Clinic Reference Guide

• Alpha-blockers are useful drugs for the treatment of both hypertension and benign prostatic hypertrophy.
• In hypertension they are generally considered as forth line agents but can prove useful especially resistant cases and cases due to renal disease.
• Prazosin has post-synaptic alpha-blocking and vasodilator properties and rarely causes tachycardia and is useful in congestive cardiac failure and Raynaud’s syndrome in addition to hypertension and BPH. However, it may cause a rapid reduction in blood pressure following the first dose and should therefore be introduced with caution.
• Other alpha-blockers have similar properties to prazosin but are claimed to be associated with less first dose hypotension, nevertheless these agents should also be introduced cautiously.
• For details of the treatment of BPH please see section 7.4.1

​Recommended drugs

Doxazosin £

Prazosin £