alpha-blocker

5.5

A drug that relaxes certain muscles to lower blood pressure and ease symptoms of an enlarged prostate

noun
/ˈælfəˌblɑːkər/

Specialized

: bloqueador alfa

She experienced fewer urinary symptoms after starting treatment with an alpha-blocker.

Examples

The doctor prescribed an alpha-blocker for my high blood pressure.
The doctor prescribed an alpha-blocker to help manage his high blood pressure.
Some patients with an enlarged prostate find relief with alpha-blockers.
Many patients benefit from alpha-blockers for prostate issues.
The doctor prescribed an alpha-blocker to help manage his high blood pressure.
After discussing treatment options, the patient decided to try an alpha-blocker for his benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Many patients report that using an alpha-blocker has significantly improved their urinary symptoms.

Synonyms

alpha-adrenergic blocking agent

vsalpha-blocker

Specialized

7.5

A medicine that relaxes blood vessel and bladder muscles to lower blood pressure and help pass urine

is the common term for an individual medicine rather than the class name

alpha-adrenergic blocker

vsalpha-blocker

Specialized

4.7

A drug that relaxes certain muscles to lower blood pressure and help urine flow in men with an enlarged prostate

is a broader class name encompassing many such medicines

Surface Forms

alpha-blocker singular

alpha-blockers plural

Morphology

alpha-blocker = alpha + blocker (semi-transparent) = alpha + blocker

The compound structure is clear, but the medical use of 'alpha' for a receptor class is technical and not fully obvious to average learners.

Etymology

The word alpha-blocker joins alpha, the Greek-letter name used to label a certain kind of body receptor, and blocker, which means 'something that stops'. So an alpha-blocker is a medicine that 'stops' those alpha receptors from working, helping muscles relax and easing high blood pressure or urinary symptoms.