Rapaflo

Rapaflo is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of enlarged prostate, known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Rapaflo belongs to a group of drugs called alpha blockers. Unlike some BPH medicines, Rapaflo does not shrink the prostate. It works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder and prostate so urine can flow easily.

This medication comes in capsule form. It is taken once daily, with food.

Common side effects include diarrhea, headache, and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Rapaflo affects you.

Rapaflo is a prescription medication used for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) including:

• difficulty urinating (hesitation, dribbling, weak stream, and incomplete bladder emptying)
• painful urination
• urinary frequency and urgency

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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

The recommended dose of Rapaflo is 8mg once daily, with a meal.

The recommended dose of Rapaflo for those with moderate renal impairment is 4mg once daily, with a meal.

Serious side effects have been reported with Rapaflo including the following: 

• Decreased blood pressure when changing positions. Rapaflo may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, especially after the first dose or when changing doses. 
  Symptoms may include:
  • fainting
  • dizziness
  • lightheadedness

Change positions slowly from lying down to sitting up or from a sitting to a standing position until you learn how you react to Rapaflo. If you begin to feel dizzy, sit or lie down until you feel better. If the symptoms are severe or do not improve, call your doctor. 

Rapaflo can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Rapaflo affects you.

• Eye problems during cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, a condition called intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) can happen if you take or have taken Rapaflo. If you need to have cataract surgery, be sure to tell your surgeon if you take or have taken Rapaflo.

Carcinoma of the prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cause many of the same symptoms. These two diseases frequently co-exist. With this being said, your doctor will exam you before prescribing Rapaflo to rule out carcinoma of the prostate. 

Do not take Rapaflo if you:

• are allergic to Rapaflo or to any of its ingredients
• have liver or kidney problems
• have cataracts or plan to have cataracts surgery

Common side effects of Rapaflo include:

• orgasm with little or no semen (fluid)
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• low blood pressure
• stuffy or runny nose

This is not a complete list of Rapaflo side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicine you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.  Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medications that block a protein in the body (CYP3A4) such as some macrolide antibiotics (clarithromycin, telithromycin), some HIV protease inhibitors (indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), some HCV protease inhibitors (boceprevir, telaprevir), some azole antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole), conivaptan (Vaprisol), delavirdine (Rescriptor), and nefazodone
• medications that block the p-glycoprotein transporter such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax), captopril (Capoten), carvedilol (Coreg), clarithromycin (Biaxin), conivaptan (Vaprisol), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf), diltiazem (Cardizem), dronedarone (Multaq), erythromycin (EES, Ery-Tab), felodipine (Plendil), itraconazole (Sporanox, Onmel), ketoconazole (Nizoral), lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra), quinidine (Cardioquine, Quinact, Duraquin), ranolazine (Ranexa), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Covera, Verelan)
• medications used to treat erectile dysfunction such as tadalafil (Cialis) and sildenafil (Viagra)
• digoxin
• Alpha 1- blockers such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), and prazosin (Minipress)

This is not a complete list of Rapaflo drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Rapaflo falls into category B. Rapaflo is not to be used by women. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Rapaflo. 

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Rapaflo crosses into human milk.  Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether or stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Rapaflo.