Doxazosin was patented in 1977 and came into medical use in 1988.[4] It is available as a
generic medication.[3] In 2021, it was the 195th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 2million prescriptions.[5][6]
A 2021 study associated doxazosin with decelerated biological aging in humans and confirmed its causal role in longevity in
C. elegans.[7]
Doxazosin is generally considered to be safe, well tolerated and effective as an add-on (adjunctive) antihypertensive drug.[9]
Like other alpha-1 receptor antagonists, it has a role in the peri-operative management of
pheochromocytoma.[10]
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Doxazosin is considered to be effective in reducing urinary symptom scores and improving peak urinary flow in men with benign prostatic hypertrophy.[11] The bladder neck is densely packed with alpha-1 receptors.
PTSD nightmares and flashbacks
Sympatholytic drugs, including
prazosin and doxazosin, are used for nightmares and flashbacks in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Doxazosin is very well tolerated for this constellation of symptoms. Given its long half-life, doxazosin lasts much longer than prazosin. While prazosin is dosed up to 4 times daily, doxazosin is generally dosed only once daily (at night). Both are alpha-1 antagonists. Other sympatholytic drugs include
clonidine and
guanfacine, which are alpha-2 agonists; they are not in the same exact class as doxazosin and
prazosin.
^Wykretowicz A, Guzik P, Wysocki H (March 2008). "Doxazosin in the current treatment of hypertension". Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 9 (4): 625–633.
doi:
10.1517/14656566.9.4.625.
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^Mazza A, Armigliato M, Marzola MC, Schiavon L, Montemurro D, Vescovo G, et al. (April 2014). "Anti-hypertensive treatment in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: current management and therapeutic features". Endocrine. 45 (3): 469–478.
doi:
10.1007/s12020-013-0007-y.
PMID23817839.
S2CID25504151.
^Yuan J, Liu Y, Yang Z, Qin X, Yang K, Mao C (March 2013). "The efficacy and safety of alpha-1 blockers for benign prostatic hyperplasia: an overview of 15 systematic reviews". Current Medical Research and Opinion. 29 (3): 279–287.
doi:
10.1185/03007995.2013.766594.
PMID23323875.
S2CID26341029.