Alphapress (Prazosin)

Hypertension: Alphapress (Prazosin) is indicated in the treatment of all grades of essential (primary) hypertension and all grades of secondary hypertension of varied aetiology. It can be used as the initial and sole agent or it may be employed in a treatment regimen in conjunction with a diuretic and/or other antihypertensive drug as needed for proper patient response.

Congestive heart failure: Alphapress (Prazosin) may be used alone or added to the therapeutic regimen in those patients with congestive heart failure who are resistant or refractory to conventional therapy with diuretics and/or cardiac glycosides.

Raynaud's phenomenon and Raynaud's disease: Alphapress (Prazosin) is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and Raynaud's disease.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Alphapress (Prazosin) is indicated as an adjunct in the symptomatic treatment of urinary obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It may therefore be of value in patients awaiting prostatic surgery.

Posology

Hypertension: The dosage range is from 500 micrograms - 20 mg daily. It is recommended that therapy be initiated at the lowest dose, 500 micrograms, twice or three times daily for three to seven days, with the starting dose administered in the evening. This dose should be increased to 1mg twice or three times daily for a further three to seven days. Thereafter, the daily dose should be increased gradually as determined by the patient's response to the blood pressure lowering effect. Most patients are likely to be maintained on a dosage regimen of Alphapress (Prazosin) alone of up to 15 mg daily in divided doses. Maximum recommended daily dosage: 20 mg in divided doses.

Patients receiving other antihypertensive therapy but with inadequate control: The dosage of the other drug should be reduced to a maintenance level and Alphapress (Prazosin) initiated at 500 micrograms in the evening, then continuing with 500 micrograms twice or three times daily. Subsequent dosage increases should be made gradually depending upon the patient's response.

There is evidence that adding Alphapress (Prazosin) to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, beta-adrenergic antagonist or calcium antagonist therapy may bring about a substantial reduction in blood pressure. Therefore, the low initial dosage regimen is recommended.

Congestive cardiac failure: The recommended starting dose is 500 micrograms two, three or four times daily, increasing to 4 mg in divided doses. Dosage should be adjusted according to the patient's clinical response, based on careful monitoring of cardiopulmonary signs and symptoms, and when indicated, haemodynamic studies. Dosage may be adjusted as often as every two to three days in patients under close medical supervision. In severely ill, decompensated patients, rapid dosage adjustment over one to two days may be indicated and is best done when haemodynamic monitoring is available. In clinical studies the therapeutic dosages ranged from 4 mg to 20 mg daily in divided doses. Adjustment of dosage may be required in the course of Alphapress (Prazosin) therapy in some patients to maintain optimal clinical improvement.

Usual daily maintenance dosage: 4 mg to 20 mg in divided doses.

Raynaud's phenomenon and Raynaud's disease: The recommended starting dosage is 500 micrograms twice daily given for a period of three to seven days and should be adjusted according to the patient's clinical response. Usual maintenance dosage is 1mg or 2mg twice daily.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: The recommended dosage is 500 micrograms twice daily for a period of 3 to 7 days, with the initial dose administered in the evening. The dosage should then be adjusted according to clinical response. The usual maintenance dosage is 2 mg twice daily. This dose should not be exceeded unless the patient requires Alphapress (Prazosin) as antihypertensive therapy. Patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia receiving hypertensive therapy, should be administered Alphapress (Prazosin) only under the supervision of the practitioner responsible for treating the patient's hypertension.

Patients with moderate to severe grades of renal impairment

Evidence to date shows that Alphapress (Prazosin) does not further compromise renal function when used in patients with renal impairment. As some patients in this category have responded to small doses of Alphapress (Prazosin), it is recommended that therapy be initiated at 500 micrograms daily and that dosage increases be instituted cautiously.

Patients with hepatic dysfunction: No information is available on the use of Alphapress (Prazosin) in this patient group, however, since Alphapress (Prazosin) normally undergoes substantial first pass metabolism and subsequent metabolism and excretion by the liver, it is recommended that therapy be initiated at 500 micrograms daily and that dosage increases be instituted cautiously.

Paediatric population: Alphapress (Prazosin) is not recommended for the treatment of children under the age of 12 years since safe conditions for its use have not been established.

Elderly: Since the elderly may be more susceptible to hypotension, therapy should be initiated with the lowest possible dose.

Method of administration

Alphapress (Prazosin) tablets are for oral administration only.

In patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: Alphapress (Prazosin) is not recommended for patients with a history of micturition syncope.

Alphapress (Prazosin) decreases peripheral vascular resistance and since many patients with this disorder are elderly, careful monitoring of blood pressure during initial administration and during adjustment of dosage is recommended. The possibility of postural hypotension, or rarely, loss of consciousness, as reported in other patient groups should be borne in mind. Close observation is especially recommended. For patients taking medications that are known to lower blood pressure, Alphapress (Prazosin) may augment the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy, consequently, close observation is especially recommended for patients taking medications that are known to lower blood pressure. Alphapress (Prazosin) should not normally be administered to patients already receiving another alpha-1-antagonist.

In patients with congestive cardiac failure: Alphapress (Prazosin) is not recommended in the treatment of congestive cardiac failure due to mechanical obstruction such as aortic valve stenosis, mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary embolism and restrictive pericardial disease. Adequate data are not yet available to establish efficacy in patients with heart failure due to recent myocardial infarction.

When Alphapress (Prazosin) is initially administered to patients with congestive cardiac failure who have undergone vigorous diuretic or other vasodilator treatment, particularly in higher than the recommended starting dose, the resultant decrease in left ventricular filling pressure may be associated with a significant fall in cardiac output and systemic blood pressure. In such patients, observance of the recommended starting dose of Alphapress (Prazosin) followed by gradual dosage increase is particularly important.

The clinical efficacy of Alphapress (Prazosin) in congestive cardiac failure has been reported to diminish after several months of treatment, in a proportion of patients. In these patients there is usually evidence of weight gain or peripheral oedema indicating fluid retention. Since spontaneous deterioration may occur in such severely ill patients, a causal relationship to prazosin therapy has not been established. Thus, as with all patients with congestive cardiac failure, careful adjustment of diuretic dosage according to the patient's clinical condition is required to prevent excessive fluid retention and consequent relief of symptoms.

In those patients without evidence of fluid retention, when clinical improvement has diminished, an increase in the dosage of Alphapress (Prazosin) will usually restore clinical efficacy.

In patients with hypertension: A very small percentage of patients may respond in an abrupt and exaggerated manner to the initial dose of Alphapress (Prazosin). Postural hypotension evidenced by dizziness and weakness, or rarely loss of consciousness, has been reported, particularly with the commencement of therapy, but this effect is readily avoided by initiating treatment with a low dose of Alphapress (Prazosin) and with small increases in dosage during the first one to two weeks of therapy. The effect when observed is not related to the severity of hypertension, is self-limiting and in most patients does not recur after the initial period of therapy or during subsequent titration steps.

Raynaud's phenomenon and Raynaud's disease: Because Alphapress (Prazosin) decreases peripheral vascular resistance, careful monitoring of blood pressure during initial administration and during subsequent dosage increments of Alphapress (Prazosin) is suggested. Close observation is especially recommended for patients already taking medications that are known to lower blood pressure.

Use with Phosphodiesterase type-5 Inhibitors: Concomitant use of phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors (e.g. sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) and prazosin hydrochloride may lead to symptomatic hypotension in some patients. In order to minimise the risk for developing postural hypotension the patient should be stable on the alpha-blocker therapy before initiating use of PDE-5 inhibitors.

Priapism: Prolonged erections and priapism have been reported with alpha-1 blockers including prazosin in post marketing experience. In the event of an erection that persists longer than 4 hours, the patient should seek immediate medical assistance. If priapism is not treated immediately, penile tissue damage and permanent loss of potency could result.

Cataract surgery: The 'Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome' (IFIS, a variant of small pupil syndrome) has been observed during cataract surgery in some patients on or previously treated with tamsulosin. Isolated reports have also been received with other alpha-1 blockers and the possibility of a class effect cannot be excluded. As IFIS may lead to increased procedural complications during the cataract operation current or past use of alpha-1 blockers should be made known to the ophthalmic surgeon in advance of surgery.

When instituting therapy with any effective antihypertensive agent, the patient should be advised on how to avoid symptoms resulting from postural hypotension and what measures to take should they develop. The patient should be cautioned to avoid situations where injury could result should dizziness or weakness occur during the initiation of Alphapress (Prazosin) therapy (i.e. driving or operating machinery).

The following side-effects have been associated with Alphapress (Prazosin) therapy:

Adverse reactions reported as more than an isolated case are listed below, by system organ class and by frequency. Frequencies are defined as: very common (> 1/10), common (> 1/100, to 1/10), uncommon (> 1/1,000, to 1/100), rare (> 1/10,000 to 1/1,000), very rare (< 1/10,000) and not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data).

The frequency of side-effects observed in patients being managed for left ventricular failure with Alphapress (Prazosin) when used in conjunction with cardiac glycosides and diuretics is shown below:

In most instances these occurrences have been mild to moderate in severity and have resolved with continued therapy or have been tolerated with no decrease in drug dosage.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Should over-dosage lead to hypotension, support of the cardiovascular system is of first importance. Restoration of blood pressure and normalization of heart rate may be accomplished by keeping the patient in the supine position. If this measure is inadequate, shock should first be treated with volume expanders. If necessary vasopressors including angiotensin should then be used. Renal function should be monitored and supported as needed. Laboratory data indicate Alphapress (Prazosin) is not dialysable because it is protein bound.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists, ATC code: C02CA01

Alphapress (Prazosin) causes a decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance through selective inhibition of postsynaptic alpha-1-adrenoreceptors in vascular smooth muscle. The results of forearm plethysmographic studies in humans demonstrate that the resultant peripheral vasodilatation is a balanced effect on both resistance vessels (arterioles) and capacitance vessels (veins).

In hypertensive patients, blood pressure is lowered in both the supine and standing positions; this effect is more pronounced on the diastolic blood pressure. Tolerance to the antihypertensive effect has not been observed in long-term clinical use; relatively little tachycardia or change in renin levels has been noted. Rebound elevation of blood pressure does not occur following abrupt cessation of Alphapress (Prazosin) therapy.

The therapeutic efficacy of Alphapress (Prazosin) in patients with congestive heart failure is ascribed to a reduction in left ventricular filling pressure, reduction in cardiac impedance and an augmentation of cardiac output. The use of Alphapress (Prazosin) in congestive heart failure does not provoke a reflex tachycardia and blood pressure reduction is minimal in normotensive patients.

Alphapress (Prazosin) has been found to successfully reduce the severity of the signs, symptoms, frequency and duration of attacks, in patients with Raynaud's disease.

In low dosage, antagonism of alpha-1-receptors on prostatic and urethral smooth muscle has been shown to improve the urinary pressure profile in men and to improve symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Clinical studies have shown that Alphapress (Prazosin) therapy is not associated with adverse changes in the serum lipid profile.

Following oral administration in normal volunteers and hypertensive patients plasma concentrations of prazosin reach a peak in one to two hours with a plasma half-life of two to three hours. Pharmacokinetic data in a limited number of patients with congestive heart failure, most of whom showed evidence of hepatic congestion, indicates that peak plasma concentrations are reached in 2.5 hours and plasma half-life is approximately 7 hours. Alphapress (Prazosin) is highly bound to plasma protein. Studies indicate that Alphapress (Prazosin) is extensively metabolised, primarily by demethylation and conjugation, and excreted mainly via bile and faeces.

Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate are not impaired by long term oral administration and thus Alphapress (Prazosin) can be used with safety in hypertensive patients with impaired renal function.

Prazosin hydrochloride was not mutagenic in genetic toxicology testing, and was not carcinogenic in rats. In chronic studies (> 1 year) conducted with prazosin hydrochloride in rats and dogs, testicular changes consisting of atrophy and necrosis occurred at 25 mg/kg/day (75 times the usual maximum recommended human dose), while no such changes were observed in either species at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day (30 times the usual maximum recommended human dose).

Fertility in rats was decreased at high nonclinically relevant doses (225 times the usual maximum recommended human dose). Prazosin hydrochloride was not teratogenic at doses up to 75 mg/kg/day (225 times the maximum recommended human dose).

Not applicable.

No special requirements for disposal. Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.