Alpha Blockers and Asthma: Understanding the Risks and Reactions

Alpha blockers are medications often prescribed to treat prostrate cancer and high blood pressure. They have been known to carry a rather high risk of side effects in many patients, making them more of a last alternative medication.

Side Effect

• An asthmatic reaction, such as shortness of breath, has been indicated as a possible side effect of alpha blockers, affecting some but not all who take the medication.

Duration

• Side effects, such as asthmatic reactions, to alpha blockers have been known to often be short lived, clearing up on their own after an initial period of use.

Solution

• If the symptoms have just appeared, notify your doctor and keep an eye on recurrences, following your physician's advice on whether to stay on the medication.

Alpha Blockers to Treat Asthma

• Studies have tested alpha blockers as a potential medication to help prevent asthmatic reactions, but they have been proven to be ineffective in this effort.

Alternatives

• There are many alternative treatments to alpha blockers for high blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics, and for prostate cancer, such as hormone therapy and chemotherapy. These should be tried if asthmatic symptoms persist while on alpha blockers.