Doxazosin

Doxazosin mesylate, a quinazoline compound sold by Pfizer under the brand names Cardura and Carduran, is an alpha blocker used to treat high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
On February 22, 2005, the US FDA approved a sustained release form of doxazosin, to be marketed as Cardura XL.
It is an alpha-1 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.

CARDURA is indicated for the treatment of both the urinary outflow obstruction and obstructive and irritative symptoms associated with BPH: obstructive symptoms (hesitation, intermittency, dribbling, weak urinary stream, incomplete emptying of the bladder) and irritative symptoms (nocturia, daytime frequency, urgency, burning). CARDURA may be used in all BPH patients whether hypertensive or normotensive. In patients with hypertension and BPH, both conditions were effectively treated with CARDURA monotherapy. CARDURA provides rapid improvement in symptoms and urinary flow rate in 66–71% of patients. Sustained improvements with CARDURA were seen in patients treated for up to 14 weeks in double-blind studies and up to 2 years in open-label studies.