alpha-blocker

1 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 blocker

vsalpha-blocker

Specialized

1 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

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

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.