The main active ingredient of this urinary incontinence medication, Alfuzosin, is a racemate, is an orally active quinazoline derivative. Furthermore, it is a selective antagonist of postsynaptic α1-adrenergic receptors. In vitro studies have Alfuzosin selectivity confirmed by α1 receptors located at the prostate level, bladder base (urinary bladder), and urethra. The clinical manifestations of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) are not only associated with the size of the prostate but also with sympathomimetic nerve impulses, which at stimulating postsynaptic α1-adrenoreceptors stimulates smooth muscle contraction of the lower urinal tract. Alfuzosin treatment relaxes smooth muscle thereby improving urinary flow.
Always use this urinary frequency treatment medication exactly as your doctor has told you. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
The recommended dose for adults, elderly patients over 65 years, and those with mild or moderate renal impairment, is 1 prolonged-release tablet (10 mg of alfuzosin) once a day. Take the first dose at night before bed. Take the tablets immediately after the same meal each day and swallow the tablets whole with enough liquid. The tablets should not be crushed, chewed, or broken.
If you take more Xatral Alfuzosin than you should
If you take large amounts of Alfuzosin you may experience a sudden drop in blood pressure and you may feel dizzy or faint. If you start to feel dizzy, sit or lie down until you feel better. If symptoms do not go away, call your doctor as this drop in blood pressure will need to be treated in a hospital.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you have chest pain, stop taking Alfuzosin, see your doctor or hospital immediately. Chest pain (angina pectoris) is a sign that normally occurs if you have had angina before. This side effect is very rare and can affect up to 1 in 10,000 people.
If you have symptoms such as lumpy red skin rashes, swelling (of the face, tongue or throat), difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking Alfuzosin and contact your doctor immediately. The following section details the known side effects and their frequency.
Other side effects that may appear with alfuzosin are:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients):
Fainting/dizziness, headache, stomach pain, feeling of discomfort in the stomach and indigestion (dyspepsia), feeling of being sick (nausea), feeling of weakness.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients):
Drowsiness, the sensation of head-spinning (vertigo), loss of consciousness due to insufficient blood flow to the brain, increased heart rate, sharp drop in blood pressure on rising (especially at the start of treatment with too high doses and when you resume treatment), runny nose, diarrhea, dry mouth, rash, itching, fluid retention (can cause swelling in the arms, ankles and legs), flushing of the face (hot flashes), chest pain, vomiting.
Xatral Alfuzosin precautions
Alfuzosin should be administered with caution in patients treated with medicinal products. Blood pressure should be monitored regularly, especially when you start the treatment.
Orthostatic hypotension may appear in some patients with or without symptoms (vertigo, fatigue, sweats) in the hours after taking the medicine. This effect is transitory, occurs at the beginning of, and in general, does not prevent its continuation. Patients must be prevented from the possible appearance of such events. In such cases, patients should lie down until the symptoms are completely gone. A marked decrease in blood pressure has been reported after marketing in patients with pre-existing risk factors (such as underlying heart disease and/or treatment concomitant with antihypertensive medication). The risk of developing hypotension and related adverse reactions is higher in elderly patients.