Guanabenz

Guanabenz is used to treat high blood pressure. It works by decreasing your heart rate and relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Guanabenz comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken twice a day at evenly spaced intervals. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take guanabenz exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Guanabenz controls high blood pressure but does not cure it. Continue to take guanabenz even if you feel well. Do not stop taking guanabenz without talking to your doctor. Abruptly stopping guanabenz may increase blood pressure and cause unwanted side effects.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Guanabenz may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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dry mouth</li>
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drowsiness</li>
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dizziness</li>
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weakness</li>
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headache</li>
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decreased sexual ability</li>
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upset stomach</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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fainting</li>
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increased or decreased heartbeat</li>
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irregular heartbeat</li>
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swollen ankles or feet</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking guanabenz, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to guanabenz or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other medications for high blood pressure, amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adepin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), sleeping pills, trimipramine (Surmontil), and vitamins. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had coronary artery disease, kidney or liver disease, or a heart attack. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking guanabenz. you should know that this drug may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you. ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are using guanabenz. Alcohol can make the side effects from guanabenz worse.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.