Uroxatral

Generic Name: alfuzosin (al fyoo ZOE sin)
Brand Names: Uroxatral

What is Uroxatral?

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Uroxatral is in a group of drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers. It helps relax the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.

Uroxatral is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

Uroxatral may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Uroxatral

Do not use Uroxatral if you have severe liver disease, or if you are also using ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ritonavir (Norvir). Uroxatral can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Stop using Uroxatral and call your doctor at once if you have new or worsening chest pain, or if you feel light-headed.

Uroxatral can affect the pupils of your eyes during cataract surgery. If you have cataract surgery during your treatment with Uroxatral, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking this medication. Do not stop using Uroxatral before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Uroxatral?

You should not use Uroxatral if you have:

severe liver disease; or
if you are also using ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ritonavir (Norvir).

Before taking Uroxatral, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

prostate cancer;
liver disease;
kidney disease;
a personal or family history of a heart rhythm disorder called Long QT syndrome;
angina (chest pain);
coronary artery disease (such as arteriosclerosis);
low blood pressure;
a history of an allergic reaction to alfuzosin;
if you are taking another alpha-blocker such as terazosin (Hytrin), prazosin (Minipress), doxazosin (Cardura), or guanadrel (Hylorel) for high blood pressure or prostate problems;
if you are taking an antifungal medicine such as ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox); or
if you are taking certain medicines to treat HIV or AIDS.

FDA pregnancy category B. Although Uroxatral is not for use in women, this medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. If you are a woman using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Uroxatral passes into breast milk, or if it could harm a nursing baby. If you are a woman using this medication, do not take Uroxatral without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Uroxatral?

Take Uroxatral exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Uroxatral should be taken just after eating food. Take Uroxatral after the same meal each day. Do not take it on an empty stomach. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or crushing the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

It is important to use Uroxatral regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure Uroxatral is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store Uroxatral at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include weakness, dizziness, a fast but weak pulse, cold or clammy skin, and feeling light-headed or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking Uroxatral?

Uroxatral can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Uroxatral side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Uroxatral and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

new or worsening chest pain;
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
fainting; or
penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.

Less serious side effects may include:

dizziness or drowsiness;
tired feeling;
headache;
diarrhea; or
sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Uroxatral?

Before taking Uroxatral, tell your doctor if you use any of the following medicines:

ritonavir (Norvir);
atenolol (Tenormin);
diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR, Diltia XT, Tiazac);
cimetidine (Tagamet); or
another medicine to treat high blood pressure or prostate problems.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Uroxatral. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Uroxatral.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Uroxatral only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.