Terazosin, sold under the brand name Hytrin among others, is a medication used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate and high blood pressure.[1] For high blood pressure, it is a less preferred option.[1] It is taken by mouth.[1]
Common side effects include dizziness, headache, tiredness, swelling, nausea, and low blood pressure with standing.[1] Severe side effects may include priapism and low blood pressure.[1] Prostate cancer should be ruled out before starting treatment.[1] It is an alpha-1 blocker and works by relaxing blood vessels and the opening of the bladder.[1]
Terazosin was patented in 1975 and came into medical use in 1985.[2] It is available as a generic medication.[3] In 2021, it was the 234th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1million prescriptions.[4] [5]
Reaction of piperazine with 2-furoyl chloride followed by catalytic hydrogenation of the furan ring leads to 2. This, when heated in the presence of 2-chloro-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4-amine (1) undergoes direct alkylation to terazosin (3).
A 2022 study suggests that terazosin may have the potential to confer neuroprotection upon motor neurons in motor neuron disease, as a result of its ability to activate PGK1.[6]