Alfuzosin

Alfuzosin is a prescription medication used to treat men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).  Alfuzosin belongs to a group of drugs called alpha blockers, which help the prostate and bladder muscles to relax, allowing urine to flow more easily.

This medication comes in an extended-release tablet and is taken once a day, after the same meal each day. Swallow alfuzosin tablets whole.

Common side effects of alfuzosin include dizziness, headache, and tiredness.  Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how alfuzosin will affect you. 

Alfuzosin is a prescription medicine used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. Symptoms treated are:

• difficulty urinating 
• painful urination
• frequent urination
• inability to urinate

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Alfuzosin may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Uroxatral

• Xatral

The most common side effects with alfuzosin are:

• dizziness
• headache
• tiredness

Call your doctor if you get any side effect that bothers you.

Alfuzosin can cause serious side effects. See "Drug Precautions" section.

These are not all the side effects of alfuzosin. For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• amiodarone (Cordarone);
• aprepitant (Emend);
• atenolol (Tenormin);
• cimetidine (Tagamet);
• clarithormycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac);
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
• danazol (Danocrine);
• delavirdine (Rescriptor);
• diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others);
• disopyramide (Norpace);
• dofetilide (Tikosyn);
• efavirenz (Sustiva);
• erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin);
• fluconazole (Diflucan);
• fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem);
• fluvoxamine (Luvox);
• HIV protease inhibitors such as atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase);
• hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, rings, and patches);
• isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid);
• lovastatin (Adivicor, Altocor, Mevacor);
• medications for high blood pressure;
• medications for erectile dysfunction (ED) such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra);
• metronidazole (Flagyl);
• moxifloxacin (Avelox);
• nefazodone;
• other alpha blockers such as doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), terazosin (Hytrin), and tamsulosin (Flomax);
• pimozide (Orap);
• procainamide (Procanbid, Pronestyl);
• quinidine (Quinidex);
• sertraline (Zoloft);
• sotalol (Betapace);
• sparfloxacin (Zagam);
• thioridazine (Mellaril);
• troleandomycin (TAO);
• verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);
• and zafirlukast (Accolate).

This is not a complete list of drug interactions with alfuzosin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects can occur with alfuzosin use including:

• Alfuzosin can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when you start treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
  • Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activities until you know how alfuzosin affects you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure.
  • If you begin to feel dizzy or lightheaded, lie down with your legs and feet up, and if your symptoms do not improve call your doctor.
• A painful erection that will not go away. Alfuzosin can cause a painful erection (priapism), which cannot be relieved by having sex. If this happens, get medical help right away. If priapism is not treated, you may not be able to get an erection in the future.

Do not take alfuzosin if you:

• have liver problems
• are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or HIV drugs called protease inhibitors
• are already taking an alpha-blocker for either high blood pressure or prostate problems
• are a woman
• are a child under the age of 18
• are allergic to alfuzosin

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with alfuzosin and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

Before taking alfuzosin, tell your doctor:

• if you have liver problems
• if you have kidney problems
• if you or any family members have a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
• about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Some of your other medicines may affect the way you respond or react to alfuzosin.
• if you have had low blood pressure, especially after taking another medicine. Signs of low blood pressure are fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness.
• if you have a heart problem called angina (pain in your chest, jaw, or arm).

If you have an eye surgery for cataract (clouding of the eye) planned, tell your ophthalmologist that you are using alfuzosin or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with alfuzosin. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Alfuzosin is not indicated for use in women, and there are no studies of alfuzosin in breastfeeding women.

• Take alfuzosin exactly as your doctor prescribes it.
• Take one alfuzosin tablet after the same meal each day. Alfuzosin should be taken just after eating food. Do not take it on an empty stomach.
• Swallow the alfuzosin tablet whole. Do not crush, split, or chew alfuzosin tablets.
• If you take too much alfuzosin call your local poison control center or emergency room right away.

Take alfuzosin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. 

The recommended dosage is one 10 mg alfuzosin extended-release tablet once daily. 

If you take too much alfuzosin, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.
 

• Store alfuzosin between 59°F and 86°F (15°C and 30°C).
• Protect from light and moisture.
• Keep alfuzosin and all medicines out of the reach of children.