What is Alfuzosin?

Alfuzosin is in a group of drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers. Alfuzosin helps relax the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.

Alfuzosin is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

Alfuzosin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Alfuzosin?

You should not use alfuzosin if you have:

• severe liver disease; or
• if you are also using an antifungal medication such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ritonavir (Norvir)

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take alfuzosin:

• prostate cancer
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome
• angina (chest pain)
• coronary artery disease (such as arteriosclerosis)
• low blood pressure
• a history of an allergic reaction to alfuzosin
• if you are taking another alpha-blocker such as terazosin (Hytrin), prazosin (Minipress), doxazosin (Cardura), or guanadrel (Hylorel) for high blood pressure or prostate problems
• if you are taking certain medicines to treat HIV or AIDS

FDA pregnancy category B. Although alfuzosin is not for use in women, this medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. If you are a woman using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether alfuzosin passes into breast milk, or if it could harm a nursing baby. If you are a woman using this medication, do not take alfuzosin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Alfuzosin Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Alfuzosin?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using alfuzosin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• new or worsening chest pain
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• feeling like you might pass out; or
• penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer

Less serious side effects may include:

• dizziness or drowsiness
• headache, tired feeling
• warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin
• mild stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation; or
• sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Alfuzosin Interactions

What other drugs affect Alfuzosin?

Before taking alfuzosin, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications to treat high blood pressure or prostate problems.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• atenolol (Tenormin)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• conivaptan (Vaprisol)
• diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Solareze)
• diltiazem (Cardizem CD, Cartia XT, Tiazac)
• enoxacin (Penetrex)
• imatinib (Gleevec)
• isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis)
• an antidepressant such as nefazodone
• an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or telithromycin (Ketek)
• an antifungal medication such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche) voriconazole (Vfend)
• a nitrate heart medication, such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, and others), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), or isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket)
• heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); or
• HIV/AIDS medicine such as amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), or saquinavir (Invirase)

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with alfuzosin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Alfuzosin?

Alfuzosin can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Alfuzosin Dosage

How should I take Alfuzosin?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Alfuzosin should be taken just after eating food. Take alfuzosin after the same meal each day. Do not take it on an empty stomach.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or crushing the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

It is important to use alfuzosin regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Alfuzosin can affect the pupils of your eyes during cataract surgery. If you have cataract surgery during your treatment with alfuzosin, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking this medication. Do not stop using alfuzosin before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.

Store alfuzosin at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I overdose on Alfuzosin?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include weakness, dizziness, a fast but weak pulse, cold or clammy skin, and feeling light-headed or fainting.

What happens if I miss a dose of Alfuzosin?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com