Minipress is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). Minipress is effective used alone or with other high blood pressure medications such as diuretics or beta-blocking medications (drugs that ease heart contractions) such as Tenormin.
Minipress is also prescribed for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an abnormal enlargement of the prostate gland.
Minipress causes the blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax and expand, which allows blood to pass more easily through them.
Minipress contains the active ingredient prazosin hydrochloride, which is a type of medicine called an alpha-blocker. Minipress works by blocking alpha-receptors in certain areas of the body.
Alpha-receptors are present on the muscle in the walls of blood vessels. When these receptors are blocked by Minipress, the muscle relaxes, causing the blood vessels to widen. The result of this is a lowering of blood pressure and Minipress can therefore be used to treat high blood pressure.
Widening of the blood vessels also decreases the effort required by the heart to pump blood around the body, as there is less resistance. This can help treat heart failure, where the pumping action of the heart has become less effective.
Minipress can also be used to treat Raynauds disease, where the blood vessels of the hands become narrowed, resulting in cold, painful hands. Widening of the blood vessels increases the blood flow to the extremities and relieves this pain.
Alpha-receptors are also present on the muscle in the prostate gland. This gland is found only in men and lies at the top of the tube connecting the bladder to the outside (urethra). The prostate gland often enlarges with advancing age (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and can cause urinary symptoms such as poor flow of urine. By blocking the alpha-receptors, Minipress causes the muscle in the prostate to relax. This allows urine to flow freely past the prostate and relieves the urinary symptoms.
