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prazosin Side Effects

Also known as: Minipress

Analysis of 5,825 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2001 to 2025.

Total Reports

5,825

Death-Related

676

11.6% of reports

Hospitalizations

2,125

36.5% of reports

Top Indication

Product Used For Unknown Indication

Most Reported Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE
388
NAUSEA
361
OFF LABEL USE
360
HEADACHE
265
DIZZINESS
263
ANXIETY
260
FATIGUE
257
PAIN
254
VOMITING
246
DEPRESSION
239
DRUG INTERACTION
233
DIARRHOEA
227
SUICIDAL IDEATION
220
DYSPNOEA
212
FALL
211
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS
203
HYPOTENSION
201
COMPLETED SUICIDE
191
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY
162
HYPERTENSION
153

Who Reports Side Effects

Gender Distribution

Female 3,076 (57%)
Male 2,283 (43%)
Unknown 6

Age Distribution

0-17 265 (6%)
18-44 1,564 (37%)
45-64 1,537 (36%)
65-74 530 (12%)
75+ 360 (8%)

Reporting Trend by Year

2001 2025

Reactions in Death Reports

Top reactions reported in 676 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.

Reaction Reports
COMPLETED SUICIDE 191
DEATH 111
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS 100
CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ARREST 75
DRUG INTERACTION 50
CARDIAC ARREST 41
NAUSEA 40
DECREASED APPETITE 38
VOMITING 37
OROPHARYNGEAL PAIN 34
SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH 33
ANALGESIC DRUG LEVEL ABOVE THERAPEUTIC 32
ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUG LEVEL ABOVE THERAPEUTIC 32
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM QT PROLONGED 32
PULMONARY CONGESTION 32
SLEEP DISORDER 32
SUSPECTED SUICIDE 30
PNEUMONIA 26
FALL 25
ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION 21

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

Top reactions in 2,125 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.

Reaction Reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS 140
HYPOTENSION 128
OFF LABEL USE 128
VOMITING 110
NAUSEA 104
FALL 102
DRUG INEFFECTIVE 96
DRUG INTERACTION 92
ANXIETY 91
DIARRHOEA 91
DYSPNOEA 90
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 87
SUICIDAL IDEATION 86
INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE 85
COMPLETED SUICIDE 80
OVERDOSE 80
PNEUMONIA 77
DEPRESSION 75
HEADACHE 72
DIZZINESS 68

Nearby — Related Medications

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What the FAERS Data Reveals About prazosin Side Effects

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 5,825 voluntary reports linked to prazosin and its brand equivalents (Minipress), spanning 2001 through 2025. Of those, 676 (11.6%) listed death as an outcome and 2,125 (36.5%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.

Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 57% were female and 43% male; age distribution skews toward 18-44, with 1,564 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 388 submissions, followed by nausea and off label use.

FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.