Prazosin Vibrostimulation Autonomic Dysreflexia and Spinal Cord Injury Study
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-07-28
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Sexuality is a high rehabilitative priority for persons following a spinal cord injury (SCI).
Sexual acts can lead to autonomic dysreflexia (AD), dangerous consequences such as a sudden
increase in blood pressure, severe headache, sweating above the level of the lesion and low
heart rate to name a few. Ejaculation in men can provoke these significant symptoms and
therefore men and women may refrain from a sexual life and biological parenthood. Adalat is
the most common antihypertensive used in fertility clinics to reduce the incidence of AD. It
dramatically reduces blood pressure and, therefore, results in side effects such as
dizziness, fatigue and weakness. The investigators hypothesize that Minipress® (prazosin
HCL), a blood pressure medication, which has a slower and less abrupt suppressive effect on
blood pressure, would be a safe, effective and more appropriate medication for use in the
outpatient sperm retrieval clinic and potentially for private use.