Uroxatral Information and Uses

Uroxatral

Uroxatral Overview

Uroxatral (generic: alfuzosin) is a prescription medication used to treat men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Uroxatral 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 Uroxatral tablets whole.

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

Uses of Uroxatral

Uroxatral 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.

Side Effects of Uroxatral

Uroxatral can cause serious side effects, including:

see "Drug Precautions".
A painful erection that will not go away. Uroxatral 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.

The most common side effects with Uroxatral are:

dizziness
headache
tiredness

Call your doctor if you get any side effect that bothers you. These are not all the side effects of Uroxatral. For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Uroxatral Interactions

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 Uroxatral. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Uroxatral Precautions

Uroxatral 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 Uroxatral 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.

Do not take Uroxatral 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 Uroxatral. The active ingredient is alfuzosin hydrochloride.

Uroxatral Food Interactions

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

Inform MD

Before taking Uroxatral, 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 Uroxatral.
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 Uroxatral or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.

Uroxatral and Pregnancy

Uroxatral is not indicated for use in women, and there are no studies of Uroxatral in pregnant women.

Uroxatral and Lactation

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

Uroxatral Usage

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

Uroxatral Dosage

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

The recommended dosage is one 10 mg Uroxatral extended-release tablet once daily. Uroxatral should be taken with food at the same time each day. The tablet should not be chewed or crushed.

Uroxatral Overdose

If you take too much Uroxatral, contact your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Forms of Uroxatral

Uroxatral is available in 10 mg extended-release tablets.

Active Ingredient: alfuzosin hydrochloride
Inactive Ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide (NF), ethylcellulose (NF), hydrogenated castor oil (NF), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (USP), magnesium stearate (NF), mannitol (USP), microcrystalline cellulose (NF), povidone (USP), and yellow ferric oxide (NF).