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Doxazosin

lindisfel

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5,854
Do you take Doxazosin for hypertension? It was dropped in the States in 2000 because it increased the risk of CVD by 25% and doubled (x2) heart failure rates in hypertensives. ALLHAT study. I found this was the most likely cause of suspected heart failure I had found eight weeks ago that stopped when I stopped Doxazosin.

A word to the wise!
But why is it being prescribed for htn in UK? I had been on it for c.10 years
D.
 
Hi lindisfel yes I'm on doxazosin have been for years i did read something about it causing side affects but they say that the benefits outweigh the risks i had heart problems long before i started taking this and it hasn't got any worse so not to bothered anyway thanks for the post
 
I have taken 8mg per day for over 8 years with no side effects so far.
BP's are normal 130/75 .

having D in itself is a risk of CVD so my understanding is that the doxazosin is meant to be preventative ???
 
It does reduce blood pressure, it did mine, but that is not the only criterion, if one is retaining fluid.
Why did they drop it in the States in 2000 and ignore those findings in the UK? There are plenty of other bp drugs in a doctors arsenal. D.
 
lindisfel said:
It does reduce blood pressure, it did mine, but that is not the only criterion, if one is retaining fluid.
Why did they drop it in the States in 2000 and ignore those findings in the UK? There are plenty of other bp drugs in a doctors arsenal. D.
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thanks for the additional info -- was not disagreeing with you -- it seems to have been a good med for me -- with no side effects so far !!
 
Hi @lindisfel Interesting what you posted about Doxazosin - I've been taking 4mg of this drug for years. (?12 years?).
I began taking 40mg Furosemide daily a month ago as I am retaining fluid in my ankles and feet.
 
Been taking Doxazosin for years, not aware of any heart problems although 9 months ago, while on my holidays, I was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Maui because some nutty MD said I was having a heart attack. After having US$ 16,000 worth of heart tests I started smelling a rat and said my insurance wouldn't cover the triple bypass they were suggesting. I was discharged within 2 hours. I had a discussion with my own GP over the phone and when I returned, heart is good, hospital was after my insurance money, in fact they're still sending me invoices for different bits and pieces.

My biggest problem with doxazosin is frequent bathroom visits at night, it's making it impossible to sleep properly and I have no idea how much that is mucking about with my health. Certainly doesn't make me the sweetest of people to know, when I'm so tired.
 
Hi Graham, night is when the retained water caused by doxazosin comes out due to being horizontal. Is your potassium on u&e's ok ? You may need a potassium sparing diuretic like spironolactone and your visits to toilet at night will drop? D.

 
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lindisfel said:
retained water caused by doxazosin
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Have you got that the right way round?

It relaxes your veins and arteries so that blood can more easily pass through them. It also relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.

Edit: Sorry, eventually found a piece that said it can cause fluid retention.

That's the trouble with BP meds, the side effects could make up a book.

I'm also taking lisinopril and amlodopine. So a good share of fluid retention and diuretics.One being prescribed to overcome the side effects of another.
 
It's difficult isn't it

Doxazosin is no where near the front line of treating hypertension

It's used when other agents and combinations are not working

It's a centrally acting antihypertensive ie it works on the adrenoreceptors

It's always a difficult balance
 
himtoo said:
I have taken 8mg per day for over 8 years with no side effects so far.
BP's are normal 130/75 .

having D in itself is a risk of CVD so my understanding is that the doxazosin is meant to be preventative ???
Click to expand...
Hi him too, How can two conditions that cause CVD cancel each other out? I am afraid I am defeated by your logic! The two conditions causing CVD are more likely to at least summate? D.
 
Hi David, those BP meds are not the best for getting rid of water. I have a BNF book given me my daughter (a GP).
During 30 years of htn I have been on pretty much the whole range of bp meds, now I am on only one, when at one time I was on three. All I need now is a potassium sparing diurectic.
My high bp could potentially be cured, I would never had htn at all, or a pacemaker etc if I had not had this 30mm adrenal tumour which produces a lot of aldosterone and it seems too late in the day now to remove it for me in my late 70's.
I think it worth your while to be reviewed by a good cardiologist and you may not have to go to the loo at night so much. I have just seen one of the leading cardiologists and it was very revealing.
regards
Derek

PS a BNP (brain peptide) blood test could be an helpful indicator of the heart having problem getting rid of water at night.


 
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lindisfel said:
I think it worth your while to be reviewed by a good cardiologist
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Many thanks for the advise, I'm seeing GP on Wednesday and presenting her with a brain dump. I have several little problems which basically all come back to being overweight in some way or another. Being overweight can then be down to several different problems. As I've been trying to get to the bottom of the mystery of why weight doesn't go when you eat like a sparrow for nearly a decade, I don't think that's going to happen any time soon, so I'm going to start chipping at them bit by bit.

I made great steps forward when I lowered carbs to 40gms per day, but the loss plateaued years ago. Now the BG has started rising which is very frustrating as it can only be fats and protein causing the problem. Dairy products have just been dropped from my diet so LC and HF are not working for me, LF I'm happy with..

Sleep is just one of the things affecting metabolism and it's the constant bathroom visits that's really affecting me mentally as much as anything else.

I shall be asking my GP for a referral to see a cardiologist, especially as I had a US cardiologist telling me I needed a triple bypass last June and then my GP saying that I didn't when I returned home. The only good news about my US hospital visit which my GP says was based on a false positive troponin test, is that the $16,000 spent on heart tests tells me my heart is as strong as an ox but doesn't explain why they thought I needed surgery, except it was a scam. I was only there for 24 hours.

Watch this space.
 
False positive trop? Did you have all the results from America? ECG, echo, Angio? Stress test? Etc etc

Not sure what the indication is for referral to a cardiologist at present and what you expect them to do?

GP is good at doing the basics but not sure they would be able to understand the more complex tests plus not sure you've had a proper work up

There are in many areas different options for specialist review other than referral to cardiologists. Depends on your local pathways and the questions you want answering.

The Gp should advise you on the best route locally so keep an open mind
 
Are you a doctor richram? David needs an answer not a year or two on the NHS slow conveyor. D.

 
Yes but not a specialist in diabetes or cardiology, not a GP.

Not giving out medical advice. I'm a Dr with type 2 DM who wants to improve my health.

Yes NHS is slow which is really frustrating and a bad point.

My point is depends what question you have?

What makes you think a cardiologist is the best person to see?

It's all contextual to your case

Who knows what's been done and what data there is, only David and his HCP know.

I do think you need to go and see someone other than your GP but why turn up to a cardiologist (after a wait which will probably be going up as the 18 week rule changes) to be told you need the basics doing when your GP could have sorted that?
 
Hi Richram, I you were peeing all night would you expect your GP to put you on a tablet that has a proven reckord of causing heart failure? Yes, one should have ones bloods done first, before going to cardio, but if there is an appropriate history that is a factor.
Why does it take so long to get an echocardiagram? And then it takes weeks to get it reported. The health service now is like wading through treacle! If I need something doing now I'll probably go down the private route . regards D.
 
I totally agree. It's very frustrating as a patient my self. I think the system isn't very good for a lot of things.

Cardiologists don't do hypertension they just don't. They do heart failure.

I think David has other important things regarding his problem in America. Gp cans and should be ordering the tests a cardiologist can and would. They need the data to make informed descisions, get them all rolling and hit the system from as many angles as possible.

1 trial does. Or make evidence based medicine. And if struggling with managing hypertension it's a good choice when lots of other agents don't work.

As you found it caused you heart failure but for many it works.

My daughter has other health problems not made easy by the NHS and as sad as I am to say it as I'm a believer in the true principle of the NHS yes the private route is a a option used by many... another discussion about that.

I hope David gets the answers regarding the risk of heart attack. Doxazocin still a useful drug and lots of drugs with certain side effects used in caution by people who know what they are doing and balance risks. It's a shame more HCP aren't doing proper shared descision making and telling you the pros and cons of medication before starting... so my end point is you need a balanced view based on your circumstances and knowledge of those who know.
 
Thanks Richram, valid points, the variability in approach and success is a little unsatisfying for the idealist who wants answers!
I would probably be dead now if my local hospital had its way! I had radicle R/T by private consultation and referral to NHS when the local hospital only wanted to give me palliative treatment 14 years ago. One has to fight ones corner in this infinitely variable system .
 
Yes I agree totally and well done. Glad you got it sorted!!!
 
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