What it means
A drug used for benign prostatic hyperplasiabee-NINE proh-STAT-ik hy-per-PLAY-zhuhA prostate gland that has grown larger than normal, from growth that is not cancer.hyper- more than normalplas growth or formation-ia conditionFull entry , to make urine flow more easily, and sometimes for high blood pressure. By relaxing blood vessels it can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure on standing, especially after the first dose or a dose increase, along with dizziness and fainting.
For the nurse
Give the first dose at bedtime and teach the client to stand up slowly. Check blood pressure lying and standing. The Beers Criteria advise against it for high blood pressure in older adults because of falls.
At a glance
| Drug class | alpha-1 adrenergic blocker |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Cardura, Cardura XL |
| Also written | Cardura, Cardura XL |
Related terms
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
hypotension
Blood pressure lower than normal, generally below 90/60 mm Hg in an adult.
benign prostatic hyperplasia
A prostate gland that has grown larger than normal, from growth that is not cancer.
tamsulosin
An alpha-1 blocker that relaxes the muscle of the prostate and bladder neck so urine flows more easily.