This presentation provides an overview of alpha blockers, a class of drugs used in the treatment of various medical conditions such as hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and Raynaud's disease. The presentation discusses the mechanism of action of alpha blockers, their classification, and their clinical applications. It also covers the adverse effects associated with their use and precautions that need to be taken while prescribing these drugs. This presentation is useful for healthcare professionals who want to gain a better understanding of alpha blockers and their use in clinical practice.

1. Understanding
α-Blockers
Alpha-blockersareaclassofdrugsthatcanhelptreata
varietyofconditions,fromurinarysymptomsofBPHto
hypertensionandevendepression.Inthispresentation,
we'llexplorethedifferenttypesofalpha-blockersand
theiruses.
Dr.ShivankanKakkar,MD

2. Classificationofα-Blockers
TypeofAlphaBlocker Examples
Non-selectivealphablockers Phenoxybenzamine,Phentolamine
Alpha-1selectiveblockers Doxazosin,Prazosin,Terazosin,
Tamsulosin
Alpha-2selectiveblockers Mirtazapine

3. Non-Selectiveα-Blockers
Phenoxybenzamine
Anirreversiblenon-selectivealpha-
blockerwithapplicationsinthe
preoperativepreventionof
hypertensivecrisisinpatientswith
pheochromocytoma.
Phentolamine
Areversiblenon-selectivealpha-
blockerusedtoinactivatetyramine-
containingfoodsforpatientson
MAOinhibitorsandtomanage
severecocaine-induced
hypertension.

4. PhenoxybenzamineandPhentolamine
AdverseEffects
OrthostaticHypotension ReflexTachycardia

5. α1SelectiveBlockers
1
Prazosin
Anα1selectiveblockerused
totreathypertensioninboth
menandwomen,post-
traumaticstressdisorder
(PTSD),andanxiety
disorders.
2
Doxazosin
Thisdrugisanα1blocker
thatisprimarilyusedtotreat
urinarysymptomsofbenign
prostatichyperplasia(BPH),
aswellashypertension.
3
Terazosin
Anα1blockerthatisalso
usedtotreaturinary
symptomsofbenign
prostatichyperplasia(BPH),
aswellashypertension.

6. α1BlockersAdverseEffects
1
1st-DoseOrthostatic
Hypotension
Asuddendropinblood
pressureafterthefirstdosein
bothmenandwomen.
2
Dizziness
Afeelingoflightheadedness
andunsteadiness.
3
Headache
Apainintheheadthatcan
becausedbyavarietyof
factors,includingsensitivity
tolightandsound,sinus
pressure,andstress.

7. Tamsulosinisaselectivealpha-1Aand
alpha-1Dadrenergicreceptor
antagonist.
Itsselectivityforthesereceptorsintheprostateglandreducessmoothmuscle
toneandallowsforincreasedurineflowinpatientswithbenignprostatic
hyperplasia(BPH).

8. α2SelectiveBlockers
Mirtazapine
Thisselectiveα2blockerisprimarilyusedasan
antidepressant.Itisknowntoincreaseserumcholesterol
andappetite,whilealsocausingsedation.

9. MirtazapineAdverseEffects
Sedation
Commonlyreportedasone
ofthesideeffectsof
mirtazapine,sedationcan
resultinincreasedsleepiness
andreducedmental
alertness.
IncreasedSerum
Cholesterol
Studieshaveshownthat
mirtazapinecanincrease
serumcholesterollevels,
whichcouldpotentiallylead
tootherhealth
complications.
IncreasedAppetite
Thisdrugisknowntocause
anincreaseinappetite,which
couldleadtoweightgain
andotherrelatedproblems.

10. α1BlockersvsACEInhibitors
α1Blockers ACEInhibitors
Primarilyusedtotreathypertension
andurinarysymptomsassociated
withBPH.
Usedtotreathypertensionand
heartfailure,aswellasreducethe
risksofcardiovasculardiseases.
Cancauseheadaches,dizzinessand
first-doseorthostatichypotension.
Adverseeffectsincludedrycough,
increasedpotassium,andkidney
damage.
Targetα1adrenergicreceptorsin
bloodvessels,reducingblood
pressure.
Blocktheactivityoftheangiotensin-
convertingenzyme,preventingthe
formationofangiotensinII,andin
turnreducingbloodpressure.

11. MirtazapinevsSSRI
Mirtazapine SSRI
Addressesdepressionbyblockingα2
receptorsinthebrain,leadingtoan
increaseintheamountofserotonin
andnorepinephrineinthebrain.
Targetsserotoninreuptake
receptorsinthebrain,increasingits
availability.
Cancausesedation,increased
appetite,andincreasedcholesterol.
Adverseeffectsincludeanxiety,
agitation,insomnia,andsexual
dysfunction.
Mirtazapineismoreeffectiveat
treatingsymptomssuchasinsomnia
anddecreasedappetite,common
symptomsofdepression.
SSRI'saretypicallyprescribedbefore
Mirtazapine,astheyaremore
effectiveattreatingseverecasesof
depression.

12. α1Blockersvsβ-Blockers
α1Blockers β-Blockers
Primarilyusedforhypertensionand
BPHurinarysymptoms.
Usedforhypertension,heartfailure,
andheartattacks.
Adverseeffectsincludeorthostatic
hypotensionanddizziness.
Adverseeffectsincludebradycardia,
hypotension,andheartfailure.
Targetalpha-adrenergicreceptorsin
smoothmuscleofbloodvessels.
Targetbeta-adrenergicreceptorsin
theheartandotherpartsofthe
body.