alfuzosin (Uroxatral) for BPH in Men: Side Effects & Dosage
What is alfuzosin? What are the uses for alfuzosin?
Alfuzosin is used in adult men to treat slow urination due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Most men experience an improvement in urination in 2 to 3 weeks.
The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) such as urinary frequency, nocturia, weak stream, hesitancy and incomplete emptying are related to two components, anatomical (static) and functional (dynamic). The static component is related to the prostate size.
Prostate size alone does not correlate with symptom severity. The dynamic component is a function of the smooth muscle tone in the prostate and its capsule, the bladder neck, and the bladder base as well as the prostatic urethra. The smooth muscle tone is regulated by alphaadrenergic receptors. Alfuzosin exhibits selectivity for alpha1 adrenergic receptors in the lower urinary tract. Blockade of these adrenoreceptors can cause smooth muscle in the bladder neck and prostate to relax, resulting in an improvement in urine flow and a reduction in symptoms of BPH.
Alfuzosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic alpha1-adrenoreceptors, which are located in the prostate, bladder base, bladder neck, prostatic capsule, and prostatic urethra.
What brand names are available for alfuzosin?
Uroxatral
Do I need a prescription for alfuzosin?
Yes
What are the side effects of alfuzosin?
- The most common side effects of alfuzosin are
- dizziness,
- headache,
- tiredness,
- postural hypotension, and
- fainting.
- This side effects occur in fewer than 1 per every 15 patients.
- As with other alpha blockers, postural hypotension (decreasing blood pressure upon standing, with or without dizziness) may develop within a few hours following ingestion of alfuzosin and can cause fainting.
- Prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia can co-exist. Therefore, patients being treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia should be evaluated to exclude the presence of prostate cancer.
Possible serious side effects include
- chest pain,
- priapism (persistent painful penile erection),
- liver injury, and
- floppy eye syndrome.
What is the dosage for alfuzosin?
Alfuzosin is taken once daily, immediately after the same meal each day. Tablets should not be chewed or crushed.
SLIDESHOW
Signs of Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, PSA Test, Treatments See SlideshowWhich drugs or supplements interact with alfuzosin?
- Alfuzosin should not be combined with ketoconazole (Nizoral, Extina, Xolegel, Kuric), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ritonavir (Norvir), because they increase alfuzosin blood levels by preventing the breakdown of alfuzosin by the liver.
- Combining alfuzosin with blood pressure reducing medications may increase the risk of hypotension (low blood pressure).
- PDE-5 inhibitors used primarily for erectile dysfunction (for example, vardenafil [Levitra, Staxyn], tadalafil [Cialis, Adcirca], and sildenafil [Viagra, Revatio]) add to the blood pressure lowering effects of alfuzosin and may result in orthostatic or postural hypotension.
Is alfuzosin safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Alfuzosin is not used by women; however, studies in animals have shown no evidence of fetal toxicity, even with exceedingly high doses of alfuzosin.
- Alfuzosin is not prescribed for women.
What else should I know about alfuzosin?
What preparations of alfuzosin are available?
Extended release table:, 10 mg.
How should I keep alfuzosin stored?
Alfuzosin should be stored at room temperature, from 15 C to 30 C (59 F - 86 F).
Health News
Summary
Alfuzosin (Uroxatral) is a drug that belongs to the alpha-blocker class of drugs, and is prescribed for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy. The most common side are headache, dizziness, fainting, and tiredness. Drug interactions and dosage should be reviewed prior to taking this medication.
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Related Disease Conditions
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Enlarged Prostate (BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate) is very common in men over 50 years of age. Half of all men over the age of 50 develop symptoms of BPH, but few need medical treatment. This noncancerous enlargement of the prostate can impede urine flow, slow the flow of urine, create the urge to urinate frequently and cause other symptoms like complete blockage of urine and urinary tract infections. More serious symptoms are urinary tract infections (UTIs) and complete blockage of the urethra, which may be a medical emergency. BPH is not cancer. Not all men with the condition need treatment, and usually is closely monitored if no symptoms are present. Treatment measures usually are reserved for men with significant symptoms, and can include medications, surgery, microwave therapy, and laser procedures. Men can prevent prostate problems by having regular medical checkups that include a prostate exam.
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High blood pressure (hypertension) means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Treatment for high blood pressure include lifestyle modifications (alcohol, smoking, coffee, salt, diet, exercise), drugs and medications such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), alpha blockers, clonidine, minoxidil, and Exforge.
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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
References
FDA Prescribing Information.
Some content is courtesy of U.S. Food and Drug Administration.