alfuzosin, Uroxatral

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Pharmacy Author:

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

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Medical and Pharmacy Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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GENERIC NAME: alfuzosin

BRAND NAME: Uroxatral

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Alfuzosin belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-blockers. It is used for increasing the flow of urine that is reduced by benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Alpha blockers relax the muscles in the prostate gland and the neck of the bladder. This allows the urethra (the tube that conducts urine out of the bladder) to open wider so that urine flows more easily. Other medicines in this of drugs include terazosin (Hytrin), prazosin (Minipress), doxazosin (Cardura), and tamsulosin (Flomax). Alfuzosin was approved in June 2003.

GENERIC: Yes

PRESCRIPTION: Yes

PREPARATIONS: Extended release table:, 10 mg.

STORAGE: Alfuzosin should be stored at room temperature, between 15 and 30 C (59-86 F).

PRESCRIBED FOR: Alfuzosin is used in adult men to treat slow urination due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Most men experience an improvement in urination in 2 to 3 weeks.

DOSING: Alfuzosin is taken once daily, immediately after the same meal each day. Tablets should not be chewed or crushed.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Alfuzosin should not be combined with ketoconazole (Nizoral, Extina, Xolegel, Kuric), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ritonavir (Norvir), because they increase alfuzosin blood levels by preventing the breakdown of alfuzosin by the liver. Combining alfuzosin with blood pressure reducing medications may increase the risk of hypotension (low blood pressure). PDE-5 inhibitors used primarily for erectile dysfunction (for example, vardenafil [Levitra, Staxyn], tadalafil [Cialis, Adcirca], and sildenafil [Viagra, Revatio]) add to the blood pressure lowering effects of alfuzosin and may result in orthostatic or postural hypotension. (See Side Effects.)

PREGNANCY: Alfuzosin is not used by women; however, studies in animals have shown no evidence of fetal toxicity, even with exceedingly high doses of alfuzosin.

NURSING MOTHERS: Alfuzosin is not prescribed for women.

SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects of alfuzosin are dizziness, headache, and tiredness, each occurring in fewer than 1 per every 15 patients. As with other alpha blockers, postural hypotension (decreasing blood pressure upon standing, with or without dizziness) may develop within a few hours following ingestion of alfuzosin and can cause fainting. Prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia can co-exist. Therefore, patients being treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia should be evaluated to exclude the presence of prostate cancer. Alfuzosin may worsen chest pain. Rarely, priapism (persistent painful penile erection) may occur. Liver injury and floppy eye syndrome have also been reported.

Reference: FDA Prescribing Information

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