Compare Prazosin vs. Catapres
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers blood pressure and makes it easier to urinate.
Prazosin is used mostly to make urination easier for men with an enlarged prostate, but it can cause dizziness.
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3.0/ 5 average rating with 48 reviewsforPrazosin
Lowers blood pressure.
Catapres (Clonidine) is a good addition if you need more than one medicine to control your blood pressure, but it has a lot of side effects. You can't miss doses.
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3.2/ 5 average rating with 78 reviewsforCatapres
Upsides
- Can be added to other blood pressure-lowering medicines if you need additional blood pressure control.
- Makes urination easier in men with an enlarged prostate.
- Helps people with PTSD get better sleep with fewer, less-intense nightmares.
- Can be added to other blood pressure-lowering medicines if you need additional blood pressure control.
- Available in a weekly patch for people that aren't good at taking medicine by mouth.
- Works in the brain, so it can help treat some nervous system and psychiatric conditions.
- Under the brand name Kapvay, it's used to treat ADHD in children and teenagers.
Downsides
- Not the best medicine to lower blood pressure by itself.
- Likely to cause orthostatic hypotension. This means dizziness when you change positions (like standing up) because your blood pressure doesn't adjust quickly enough.
- Not preferred for people 65 years or older.
- Has a lot of side effects compared to other blood pressure-lowering medicine because it works in the brain.
- The pill form can make some people sleepy, dizzy, and have dry mouth.
- You can't miss doses. Stopping Clonidine suddenly can cause your blood pressure to go up suddenly, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Used for
- High blood pressure
- Enlarged prostate
- Erectile dysfunction
- Heart failure
- PTSD
- Poisoning due to scorpion venom
- Raynaud's phenomenon
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
- Extended release
- Patch
Price
Lowest price
$73.30
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$7.62
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Reviews
48 reviews so far
46%
saidit'sworth it
29%
saiditworked well
15%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Minipress (Prazosin)?
Leave a review78 reviews so far
42%
saidit'sworth it
33%
saiditworked well
35%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Catapres (Clonidine)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
7possible side effects
- Dizziness10%
- Headache8%
- Drowsiness8%
- Lack of energy7%
- Weakness7%
- Palpitations5%
- Nausea5%
17possible side effects
- Erythema / pruritis26%
- Dry mouth25%
- Drowsiness12%
- Localized vesiculation7%
- Fatigue6%
- Headache5%
- Allergic contact sensitization5%
- Hyperpigmentation5%
- Lethargy3%
- Sedation3%
- Edema3%
- Excoriation3%
- Burning3%
- Insomnia2%
- Dizziness2%
- Impotence/sexual dysfunction2%
- Dry throat2%
Risks and risk factors
- Low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension)
- Age 65 years or older
- Withdrawal
- Sudden discontinuation of medicine
- Driving impairment
- Taking with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- Low heart rate (bradycardia)
- Age 65 years or older
- Using other medicine(s) that slows the heart