Doxazosin and alcohol

Ask your doctor before using doxazosin together with ethanol. Using doxazosin with ethanol can lower your blood pressure. This can cause dizziness or feeling like you might pass out, especially when getting up from a sitting or lying position. This may be more likely to occur when you first start taking either of these medications. You may need a dose adjustment or need your blood pressure checked more often if you take both medications. You may develop flushing, warmth or redness under your skin or tingly feeling after alcohol intake (especially in you are of Asian descent) and should be advised to avoid alcohol or limit your intake. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

GENERALLY AVOID: The concurrent use of ethanol and alpha-1 adrenergic blockers may cause increased hypotensive effects. Patients with aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiencies (primarily Asians) may be at a higher risk of this interaction. The mechanism has not been determined. Data exist for prazosin and other alpha adrenergic blockers are expected to interact also. In addition, any patients taking alpha adrenergic blockers may experience excessive orthostatic hypotension with ethanol ingestion, due to ethanol's unopposed vasodilatory effects in the presence of alpha adrenergic blockade.

MANAGEMENT: Patients who develop a flushing reaction after ethanol ingestion (indicates a possible aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency) should be advised to avoid ethanol or limit their intake. All patients should be warned about the possibility of orthostatic hypotension with concurrent ethanol use.