Doxazosin detailed information

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Doxazosin mesylate, a quinazoline compound sold by Pfizer under the brand name Cardura®, is an alpha blocker used to treat high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

It is an alpha adrenergic receptor blocker which inhibits the binding of norepinephrine to alpha receptors in the autonomic nervous system. The primary effect of this blockage is relaxed vascular smooth muscle tone (vasodilation), which decreases peripheral vascular resistance, leading to decreased blood pressure.

Efficacy
In March 2000, the ALLHAT study stopped the arm of its trial looking at alpha blockers because doxazosin (Cardura) was less effective than a simple diuretic. Patients on Cardura had a 25% higher rate of cardiovascular disease and twice the rate of congestive heart failure as patients on diuretics. Pfizer, aware of the results before publication, launched a sophisticated damage control campaign in early 2000, and sales were largely unaffected despite the dangers highlighted by the study.