Alfuzosin

The usual recommended dose is one 10 mg tablet daily, after a meal. The tablet should be swallowed whole, not chewed or crushed. It should be taken after the same meal each day.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Alfuzosin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice. If you miss taking Alfuzosin for several days in a row, contact your doctor for instructions.

Store Alfuzosin at room temperature and keep it out of reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause stomach ache; it may cause indigestion; it may cause dizziness - use caution when getting up from a lying or sitting position and use caution if driving; it may cause unusual tiredness; it may cause difficulty with erection. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

Each once-daily, prolonged-release, 3-layer, round, and biconvex tablet, contains alfuzosin hydrochloride 10 mg in a white matrix layer between 2 inactive yellow layers. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal hydrated silica, ethylcellulose, hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (hypromellose), magnesium stearate, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and yellow ferric oxide.

Do not take alfuzosin if you:

• are allergic to alfuzosin or any ingredients of the medication
• have moderate to severe impairment of liver function
• take itraconazole, ketoconazole, or ritonavir
• take other alpha-1-blockers for blood pressure or prostate problems

There may be an interaction between alfuzosin and any of the following:

• Aliskiren
• alpha agonists (e.g., Clonidine, methyldopa)
• alpha/beta agonists (e.g., Epinephrine, norepinephrine)
• Amiodarone
• angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs; Captopril, Ramipril)
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., Candesartan, Irbesartan, Losartan)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Apalutamide
• Aprepitant
• "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole)
• beta-adrenergic blockers (e.g., Atenolol, Propranolol, Sotalol)
• Bicalutamide
• Bosentan
• brimonidine
• Buprenorphine
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• Cobicistat
• conivaptan
• Cyclosporine
• Deferasirox
• Degarelix
• Dexamethasone
• Disopyramide
• diuretics (water pills; e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene)
• dofetilide
• Domperidone
• Dronedarone
• Enzalutamide
• Flecainide
• grapefruit juice
• Guanfacine
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Hydralazine
• Lomitapide
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Methadone
• mifepristone
• Minoxidil
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• Nitroglycerin
• other alpha blockers (e.g., Doxazosin, Tamsulosin)
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (e.g., Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil)
• primidone
• procainamide
• quinidine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin,)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rilpivirine
• Ropinirole
• St. John's wort
• Sarilumab
• serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron)
• Sertraline
• siltuximab
• Tetrabenazine
• Tizanidine
• Tocilizumab
• tolcapone
• Trazodone
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Clomipramine, Imipramine)
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., Crizotinib, Dabrafenib, imatinib, Lapatinib, Pazopanib, Sunitinib)

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Alfuzosin. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Alfuzosin.

Angina: Alfuzosin may cause increased heart rate or decreased blood pressure, which may affect control of angina symptoms. People with angina (chest pain) should stop using Alfuzosin if their symptoms reappear or become worse.

Cataracts: During eye surgery for cataracts, people who take or have taken alfuzosin are at risk for developing a condition called Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS). This condition can lead to eye damage. If you will be undergoing cataract surgery, tell your doctor that you are taking a medication that contains alfuzosin. Your surgeon may advise you to temporarily stop taking the medication before the surgery.

Drowsiness/dizziness: Alfuzosin may cause dizziness with the first few doses, affecting your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing other potentially hazardous tasks until you have determined how you are affected by Alfuzosin.

Liver function: If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Alfuzosin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Alfuzosin, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Orthostatic hypotension (Low Blood Pressure upon arising): Alfuzosin can cause orthostatic hypotension, leading to dizziness or fainting when rising from a sitting or lying down position. If you feel faint or dizzy when getting up, lie down until the symptoms pass. This effect often goes away as treatment with alfuzosin is continued. People with orthostatic hypotension should use caution while taking alfuzosin, as it may worsen their condition.

Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) cause many of the same symptoms. These two diseases frequently coexist. Before starting alfuzosin therapy, an evaluation should take place to rule out prostate cancer.

QT prolongation: Alfuzosin can lengthen heartbeat as shown on an electrocardiogram test, also known as QT prolongation. If you have heart disease and abnormal heart rhythms, or are taking certain medications (e.g., Verapamil, atazanavir), discuss with your doctor how Alfuzosin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Alfuzosin, and whether any special monitoring is needed. If you develop heart palpitations (fast or irregular heartbeat) or experience fainting spells, stop taking alfuzosin and contact your doctor immediately.

Women: Alfuzosin is not recommended for use by women.

Children: Alfuzosin is not recommended for use by children.

This medication is typically used only once a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand. This medication should be swallowed whole. It should not be split, crushed or chewed. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose. Do not double the next dose to catch up. This medication should be taken immediately after finishing a meal.