Prazosin

PRAZ = press + OSIN = loosen

Break prazosin into PRAZ (sounds like press) and OSIN (sounds like loosen): press-loosen. Prazosin loosens the pressure. Alpha-1 is the receptor that clamps vessels tight, so loosening pressure means blocking it, and there is only one A in prazosin, which points you to alpha-1. Press-loosen, alpha-1 antagonist, blood pressure drops.

Antihypertensive PRAZ = press | OSIN = loosen

1

Prazosin is a selective alpha-1 antagonist. Blocking alpha-1 on vascular smooth muscle causes vasodilation and lowers blood pressure, and blocking it in the prostate and bladder neck relaxes those muscles, which relieves BPH symptoms. The '-osin' ending tags the family: doxazosin, terazosin, tamsulosin.

2

First-dose orthostatic hypotension is the classic warning, so it is started low and at bedtime. Prazosin is also used for PTSD-related nightmares, because blocking central alpha-1 reduces the noradrenergic surges that drive them.