Last reviewed · How we verify
Placebo to Prazosin
Prazosin is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist that blocks norepinephrine signaling to reduce blood pressure and improve urinary symptoms.
Prazosin is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist that blocks norepinephrine signaling to reduce blood pressure and improve urinary symptoms. Used for Hypertension, Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), PTSD-related nightmares (off-label).
At a glance
| Generic name | Placebo to Prazosin |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Brian J Lipworth |
| Drug class | Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist |
| Target | Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Cardiovascular; Urology; Psychiatry (off-label) |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Prazosin selectively blocks alpha-1 adrenergic receptors on vascular smooth muscle and bladder tissue, causing vasodilation and reducing peripheral vascular resistance, which lowers blood pressure. It also relaxes smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder neck, improving urinary flow. The drug has also been used off-label for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) nightmares, though the mechanism in this indication is not fully established.
Approved indications
- Hypertension
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- PTSD-related nightmares (off-label)
Common side effects
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Palpitations
- Syncope (first-dose effect)
Key clinical trials
- Brain Blood Vessel Responses to Changes in Blood Flow (PHASE2)
- Predicting Responses to PTSD Treatment With Iris and Cardiovascular Tests (PHASE3)
- Brain Blood Vessel Responses to Changes in Blood Flow: Younger Cohort (PHASE2)
- Prazosin for Alcohol Use Disorder With Withdrawal Symptoms (PHASE2)
- Doxazosin an a1 Antagonist for Alcohol Dependence (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Treating Nightmares in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With Clonidine and Doxazosin (PHASE2)
- Administration of Prazosin to Prevent PTSD in Adult Women After Sexual Assault (PHASE4)
- Prazosin for Post-Concussive Headaches (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Placebo to Prazosin CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Placebo to Prazosin updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Brian J Lipworth portfolio CI