Patient was educated on the side effects of using Terazosin as follows:
- Symptoms of hypotension can occur secondary to arterial and venous vasodilation with reduced resistance to the contraction of heart and increased capacitance of the veins. This can reduce blood supply to distant vital organs, such as, brain and result in symptoms such as, dizziness, headache, and feeling lightheaded.
- Patients can present with a very rapid heart rate, as a compensatory measure for the reduced blood pressure.
- Flushing and headache can occur due to venous vasodilation.
- Blood flow out of the heart can be reduced, secondary to increased vasodilation and compromise oxygenated blood flow to the kidneys. This can result in slowly diminishing renal functions.
- Patients can present with episodes of chest pain, if the coronary circulation were severely compromised, due to poor blood flow out of the heart. Any episodes of chest pain should be immediately reported and attended to.
- Blood supply to the peripheries can decrease secondary to reduced blood pumped out of the heart, resulting in cold extremities.
- Reduced blood flow to the peripheries can result in muscle cramps, weakness, and fatigue.
