drug adverse effects of alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonists

Adverse effects

• dizziness, light-headedness, orthostatic hypotension
  • falls in the elderly (RR=1.1)
  • fractures (RR=1.2)
• tamsulosin (Flomax) least likely to cause orthostatic hypotension
• alfuzosin (Uroxatral) least likely to cause abnormal ejaculation
• adverse ocular effects
  • blurred vision
  • eye pain
  • risk of intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome during cataracts surgery (most frequent with tamsulosin)
    • do not initiate alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist therapy prior to scheduled cataract surgery
• none are likely to cause erectile dysfunction
• worsening chronic renal failure with progression to ESRD
• stress urinary incontinence, especially in women with pelvic organ prolapse

* not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in contrast to findings of ALLHAT study

More general terms

• drug adverse effect(s)