Pharmacy Author: Emmanuel
Saltiel, Pharm. D.
Medical Editor: Jay Marks, M.D.
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 class include terazosin (Hytrin), prazosin (Minipress), doxazosin (Cardura), and tamsulosin (Flomax).
GENERIC: No
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Extended release tablet, 10 mg.
STORAGE: Alfuzosin should be stored at room temperature, between 15 and 30°C (59-86°F). This medicine – as well as all others – should be kept out of the reach of children.
PRESCRIBED FOR: Alfuzosin is used in adult men to treat slow urination in BPH. 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.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: No drug interactions have yet been reported with alfuzosin.
PREGNANCY: Alfuzosin is not used among women; however, studies in animals have shown no evidence of fetal toxicity, even with exceedingly high doses of alfuzosin.
NURSING MOTHERS: Alfuzosin is not used among women.
SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects with 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.
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Back to Medications IndexLast Editorial Review: 10/18/2004 9:20:45 PM
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