Alfuzosin Hydrochloride, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: alpha blocker (enlarged prostate gland therapy)

Generic and brand names: alfuzosin hydrochloride, oral; Uroxatral

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to:

• treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
• reduce the risk of urinary retention (not being able to urinate)
• reduce the chance you will need prostate surgery.

It may also be used for other conditions determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Do not take this medicine if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or protease inhibitors (medicines to treat HIV).

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart)
• heart disease or angina (chest pain)
• kidney disease
• low blood pressure
• liver disease
• prostate cancer

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine with food. Take it with a full glass of water. Take your dose after the same meal each day. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes for as long as prescribed. Do not take more or take it more often than prescribed.

Do not chew, crush, or break the tablets. Swallow them whole.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, lightheadedness, fainting.

What should I watch out for?

Caution: This medicine is for men only.

This medicine does not protect you from prostate cancer. Continue to have screening exams as recommended by your healthcare provider.

This medicine may cause impotence (trouble having and keeping an erection), decrease your sex drive, or reduce the amount of semen released during sexual intercourse. These effects are usually mild and temporary when they occur.

Rarely, this medicine may cause a painful erection of the penis that will not return to normal. If this occurs, contact your healthcare provider or get medical care right away. It can lead to permanent erectile dysfunction if not treated.

Do not give this medicine to anyone else.

This medicine may make you dizzy or lightheaded. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert. Be careful to avoid falling.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. Also, drinking alcohol may make it worse. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Dizziness or fainting that continues or gets worse, painful erection that does not go away, fast heartbeat, yellow skin or eyes, chest pain, vision problems.

Other: Headache, tiredness, dizziness, runny nose, diarrhea, constipation, dry mouth, stomach pain, nausea, erectile dysfunction.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), clarithromycin (Biaxin), telithromycin (Ketek), isoniazid, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), and norfloxacin (Noroxin)
• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), voriconazole (VFEND), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• antiviral drugs such as ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), nelfinavir (Viracept), indinavir (Crixivan), nevirapine (Viramune), and delavirdine (Rescriptor)
• aprepitant (Emend)
• antidepressants such as nefazodone, fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine, paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).
• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• angiotensin receptor II blockers (ARBs) such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar, olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
• alpha blockers such as prazosin (Minipress), doxazosin (Cardura), and terazosin (Hytrin)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Toprol XL, Lopressor), sotalol (Betapace), and propranolol (Inderal)
• antipsychotics such as aripiprazole (Abilify), thioridazine (Mellaril), and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• calcium channel blockers such as verapamil (Calan, Covera HS, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cartia XT, Cardizem, Tiazac), and nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• imatinib (Gleevec)
• medicines that control heart rhythm such as disopyramide (Norpace), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), procainamide (Procanbid), flecainide (Tambocor), and quinidine
• medicines to treat erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.