Is Cardura (doxazosin) a male-exclusive drug?

Cardura (Doxazosin) is Not a Male-Exclusive Drug

Cardura (doxazosin) is not a male-exclusive drug as it has FDA-approved indications for both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men and hypertension in all adults regardless of gender. 1

FDA-Approved Indications

• Doxazosin is FDA-approved for two distinct conditions:
  • Treatment of signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men 1
  • Treatment of hypertension in adults of any gender 1

Mechanism of Action and Use in Different Populations

• Doxazosin is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist (alpha blocker) that works by:

  • Inhibiting alpha-1 adrenergic-mediated contraction of prostatic smooth muscle to relieve bladder outlet obstruction in BPH 2
  • Blocking alpha-1 receptors in vascular smooth muscle to reduce peripheral vascular resistance and lower blood pressure 2

• For BPH treatment (male-specific condition):

  • Doxazosin improves both obstructive and irritative urinary symptoms 3
  • It increases peak urinary flow rate by an average of 3.2-3.7 mL/s 4
  • Typical dosing ranges from 1-8 mg daily 2

• For hypertension treatment (all genders):

  • Doxazosin is effective as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensives 1
  • Dosing ranges from 1-16 mg daily 2

Clinical Considerations

• Doxazosin is particularly appropriate for men who have both BPH and hypertension, as it can treat both conditions simultaneously 5

• In normotensive men with BPH, doxazosin still improves urinary symptoms without causing clinically significant blood pressure reduction 5

• Adverse effects are similar across genders and include:

  • Orthostatic hypotension (more common in older adults) 2
  • Dizziness, tiredness (asthenia) 2
  • Ejaculatory problems (male-specific side effect) 2
  • Nasal congestion 2

• Important cardiovascular consideration:

  • In hypertensive patients with cardiac risk factors, doxazosin monotherapy was associated with higher incidence of congestive heart failure compared to other antihypertensives 2
  • It may be considered a second-line agent for hypertension in patients with concomitant BPH 2

Formulations and Dosing

• Available in standard tablet and controlled-release GITS (gastrointestinal therapeutic system) formulations 6

  • GITS formulation requires fewer titration steps and may cause fewer adverse effects 6

• Dosing is typically once daily, with titration to effective dose:

  • For BPH: Starting at lower doses and titrating up to 4-8 mg daily 2
  • For hypertension: Starting at 1 mg and titrating up to 16 mg daily as needed 2

In conclusion, while one indication for doxazosin (BPH treatment) is specific to men, its use as an antihypertensive agent makes it appropriate for all adult patients regardless of gender. Therefore, it is not a male-exclusive medication.