taking an alpha-blocker can cause serious complications years later during cataract surgery

May 2012

Who would have guessed that taking an alpha-blocker can cause serious complications years later during cataract surgery?

Alpha-blockers can lead to floppy iris syndrome during cataract surgery and therefore make the procedure considerably trickier.

This was first recognized with tamsulosin (Flomax, etc) and other alpha-blockers used for benign prostatic hypertrophy or hypertension.

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Table of Contents

Statins fewer liver enzyme tests to order for statin patients
Antithrombotics Vitamin K will be used less often to reverse warfarin's anticoagulant effects
Insomnia Intermezzo (in-ter-MET-zoe), a new low-dose zolpidem for middle-of-the-night awakening
Women's Health a more tailored approach to using hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms
Women's Health Natazia for heavy menstrual bleeding
Antithrombotics Chest guidelines will create debate over which antiplatelet drug to add to aspirin after an acute coronary syndrome
Alzheimer's Disease cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, etc) or memantine (Namenda) are beneficial for Alzheimer's
Ophthalmology taking an alpha-blocker can cause serious complications years later during cataract surgery
Supplements raspberry ketone for weight loss
Interactions "alert fatigue" caused by the increasing number of drug interaction warnings
Autism questions about meds for autism-related problems