Doxazosin Dosage: An Overview
The dose of
doxazosin mesylate (
Cardura®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- Your age
- The medical condition you are being treated for
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you are currently taking
- How you respond to doxazosin.
Specific Doxazosin Dosage Information
The following sections provide specific information on dosing with doxazosin, both when starting the drug and for certain conditions.
Doxazosin Dosage to Start
When you first begin taking doxazosin (for either
BPH or
hypertension), you will need to start at the lowest dose (1 mg daily). If you stop taking doxazosin, even for just a few days, you will need to restart with the lowest dose to prevent side effects. After the first dose, your doxazosin dose may be increased slowly.
Doxazosin Dosage for BPH
For benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the doxazosin dosage may be increased to 2 mg a day if necessary. After that, the dose can be increased to 4 mg a day and then 8 mg a day if needed. There should be at least one to two weeks in between dose increases, and your
blood pressure should be checked each time. The maximum dose for BPH is 8 mg, taken once daily.
Doxazosin Dosage for High Blood Pressure
When
treating high blood pressure (hypertension), the doxazosin dosage may be increased to 2 mg a day if necessary, based on
blood pressure readings taken two to six hours and one day after the first dose. If needed, the dose can continue to be doubled until a maximum of 16 mg a day is reached. The dose should always be increased slowly, and
blood pressure readings should be taken each time the dose is increased.
As with any medication, do not adjust your doxazosin dosage unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
