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
- 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.
QUESTION
The prostate is about the size of a _____________.
See Answer
Which 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).