Thanks to scientific research in the field of pharmaceuticals, the effect of drugs, the release of more modern highly effective medicines, is constantly being studied. But there are drugs with a wide spectrum of action that remain indispensable for decades. These include alpha blockers.
Most often they are used in the medical treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure, as well as a number of urological diseases, for example, chronic prostatitis and a benign tumor of the prostate gland.
Discovery story
The discovery of alpha-blockers in Russian pharmaceuticals was made in 1976. From that moment, they were considered effective drugs that lower blood pressure. But their use is not always appropriate because of too many side effects. One of the first drugs in this group was Prazosin. Further, other alpha-blockers, such as Doxasosin and Terarozin, were launched. All of them, like Prazosin, are used to treat hypertension, but differ from it in a more prolonged effect.
But alpha-blockers also vary in degree, location and functional purpose. The drugs will be presented below.
Views
Adrenoreceptors are divided into two subspecies:
- Alpha-1 receptors, which are localized on the surface of the postsynaptic membrane of a neuron, are responsible for the signals produced by using catecholamines to address other neurons or effector cells, including some vascular cells. A consequence of the activity of such receptors is vasoconstriction.
- Alpha-2 receptors, which are located on the surface of the presynaptic membrane of a neuron, control the production of norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft through negative feedback, thereby reducing the production of norepinephrine accumulated in the synaptic cleft.
The implementation of the blockade of receptors of alpha-1 vascular smooth muscle eliminates vasoconstriction, provoked by catecholamines. In turn, the alpha-2 receptors located on the presynaptic membrane of the neuron are not in blockade, which means that there is an integrity of the feedback mechanism that provokes the release of norepinephrine.
Selective 1 (adrenergic blockers) are antagonists of postsynaptic receptors. Such drugs eliminate receptor activity due to the action of catecholamines in the circulation and released by neurons.
Functions
In addition to the effect on lowering blood pressure, alpha-blockers (drugs are given below) have other functions. Etocardial, metabolic, extracardial therapeutic effects. Scientifically proven high efficiency of drugs in this group in the treatment of changes in the myocardium, coronary system, in the action on proteins in the prostate.
Extracardiac
- Stimulation of the kidneys.
- Cleansing the bronchi.
- Improving metabolic processes in the genitourinary system with a benign tumor of the prostate gland.
Alpha blockers have a positive effect on reducing tumor growth and the severity of impotence.
Cardiac
- Reduction of myocardial hypertrophy.
- Regulate heart rate.
With caution due to the negative effect, it is used for heart failure and angina pectoris.
Metabolic
- Reduce the risk of cholesterol plaque formation.
- Reduce blood sugar (insulin).
As mentioned above, often alpha-blockers are used in the treatment of prostate diseases in men.
The male population over the age of 50 often suffers from such diseases, the first among which are prostatitis and prostate adenoma.
These diseases have a very negative effect on the lifestyle of a person as a whole. Constant problems with urination, discomfort, progressive impotence are of certain difficulties for men of any age. In addition, the above diseases are considered to be rapidly developing. Often you can not do without surgical intervention. To stop the acute phase of the disease, medications are used.
For medical intervention, a-blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are used.
The therapeutic regimen of inhibitors
The growth of muscle tissue of the prostate gland is provoked primarily by hormonal levels. Steroid 5-alpha reductase stimulates the conversion of the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone in the prostate cavity. The latter, in turn, comes into contact with the nuclear androgen receptor in the prostate and provokes the secretion of paracrine growth factors, they also move to the prostate. Alpha-blockers 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors can help in this situation.
Excessive production of dihydrotestosterone causes a number of serious diseases, such as a benign prostate tumor, cancer, and other urological diseases of the prostate. At such a moment, 5 alpha reductase inhibitors are used as a medical treatment course. Their therapeutic effect consists in the blockade of reductase, which in turn lowers the level of dihydrotestosterone, which provokes diffuse changes in the prostate.
The most popular drugs in this group are Finasteride and Dutasteride. They have a similar therapeutic effect, differ in exposure time and intake regimen.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors can be purchased at the pharmacy with a prescription.
But despite the high effectiveness, drugs are used with caution and not in all cases due to the large number of negative manifestations and contraindications.
The main side effects when taking
- After using drugs to lower blood pressure, there is a chance of hypotension.
- Nausea, headaches, dizziness.
- Heart palpitations, shortness of breath.
- Muscle pain, weakness.
- Sedative effect.
- Fluid retention, swelling.
- Pain in the stomach and intestines.
- Difficulty breathing through the nose, thirst.
- More often in the female half of the population there is a stimulation of the bladder, frequent urges to urinate.
Therefore, alpha-beta blockers should be taken with caution.
One of the most serious consequences is postural hypotension, which can occur even with a single dose of the drug. Its first signs occur after half an hour or an hour after taking the medication. This mainly concerns Prazosin. To prevent this side effect, it is necessary to prescribe a drug according to a growing regimen of administration and preferably at night.
In connection with the above side effects, alpha-blockers are prescribed in combination with diuretics to prevent fluid retention and painkillers to relieve pain symptoms.
Medicines of this group are prescribed both as independent therapy and simultaneously with other medicines for the treatment of various diseases.
Diseases
A number of diseases for the treatment of which alpha blockers are used:
- In the fight against hypertension in complex therapy, as a means to achieve an accelerated therapeutic effect.
- Benign formation in the prostate gland.
- Diabetes.
- Pheochromocytoma.
- Malignant neoplasm in the prostate gland.
Contraindications
In what cases are alpha and beta blockers not prescribed?
The main contraindications to taking the drugs are:
- low blood pressure;
- dehydration;
- diuretic therapy;
- various heart defects;
- chronic heart failure;
- bronchial asthma;
- heart rhythm disturbance.
Such preparations are not prescribed during gestation and during lactation, since there have been no precise laboratory studies on this issue.
Alpha blockers for adenoma
The main drugs of this group used to treat adenoma:
- Uroxataral.
- Kardura
- Guitrin.
- Rapaflo.
- Flomax.
These drugs are based on alpha blockers. The list goes on.
Mechanism of action
The mechanism of action of such drugs in the fight against adenoma is simple, they remove the tone of the muscles of the prostate and bladder, thereby contributing to the facilitation of urination.
Such medicines are prescribed with a medical course with an individual dosage, taken once or twice a day.
Medicines are prescribed for categories of patients with advanced disease who have difficulty urinating, and weaker drugs did not have the proper effect.
The main therapeutic effect begins to appear after a week of taking the drugs. After 14-21 days, a significant relief of the patient's condition occurs.
special instructions
For a high therapeutic effect, alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are taken in a pair. Data on the high efficiency of the use of paired drugs were obtained as a result of medical clinical trials.
It is not recommended to combine the above medications simultaneously with medicines or dietary supplements for impotence. They can enhance the therapeutic effect of blockers, which is undesirable. The result can be a sharp decrease in blood pressure.
Another negative consequence of taking alpha blockers for the treatment of urological diseases can be ejaculation into the cavity of the bladder. This does not cause negative effects on overall health.
When using medicines of this group to combat adenoma, it is recommended to use other drugs to reduce blood pressure. Accepted as an element of complex therapy, they may be less effective in the treatment of hypertension.
For patients who do not suffer from hypertension, it is recommended to constantly monitor the level of blood pressure when combating changes in the prostate gland of alpha-blockers.
Drug Precautions
- Medications containing alpha blockers should only be used as directed by your doctor. The doctor must determine the dosage, duration of administration.
- Treatment with the use of such drugs should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor or within the walls of a medical institution.
- If side effects occur, stop taking the drug and consult a doctor.
- In no case do not change the dosage in the direction of increasing yourself.
- The administration of other drugs simultaneously with alpha-blockers should be agreed with the attending physician.
- Do not use alpha-blockers as an emergency therapy for hypertension without the consent of a doctor.
- Do not take expired preparations or with broken packaging, damage to the hard shell of tablets.
- Purchase medicines exclusively at licensed pharmacies.
- When taking medications of the above group, constantly measure blood pressure during the day and at bedtime.
- The administration of drugs with high blood pressure during pregnancy must be agreed with the doctor.
It is important to understand that an overdose of such drugs can lead to undesirable consequences.