Xatral XL (alfuzosin) _ an alpha-blocker

Xatral XL (alfuzosin)

 

Main use	Active ingredient	Manufacturer
Enlarged prostate gland	Alfuzosin hydrochloride	Sanofi Aventis

How does it work?

Xatral XL tablets contain the active ingredient alfuzosin, which is a type of medicine called an alpha-blocker.

It works by blocking alpha receptors that are found in the muscle in the prostate gland.

The prostate gland, which is found only in men, lies at the top of the tube connecting the bladder to the outside (urethra).

The prostate gland often enlarges with advancing age (a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia), pressing on the urethra and obstructing the flow of urine from the bladder.

This can cause various urinary symptoms, such as difficulty passing urine.

Alfuzosin blocks alpha receptors in the muscle of the prostate gland, which causes the muscle in the prostate to relax. This allows urine to flow freely past the prostate and relieves the urinary symptoms.

Xatral XL tablets are prolonged release tablets. They are designed to release the alfuzosin gradually as they pass through the stomach and intestine, so that a steady amount of medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream throughout the day. The tablets should be taken once a day, after a meal. The tablets must be swallowed whole and not chewed, broken or crushed, as this would stop the prolonged release action from working.

What is it used for?

• Relieving the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
• Acute retention of urine associated with an enlarged prostate gland, in men over 65 years of age. This medicine is taken for two to three days while a catheter is in place and for one day after the catheter has been removed.

Warning!

• Xatral XL tablets must be swallowed whole and not chewed, broken or crushed.
• The first dose of this medicine may cause dizziness, light-headedness or fainting. For this reason you should take the first dose, and preferably each dose, just before retiring to bed at night. Take care when moving from lying down to sitting or standing, particularly if you wake up in the night, until you know how this medicine affects you. If you feel dizzy or light-headed at any time during treatment, sit or lie down until the symptoms pass. Some people may find that drinking alcohol makes dizziness worse.
• As this medicine may cause fatigue and dizziness, you should take care when performing potentially hazardous activites, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how this medicine affects you and are sure you can perform such activities safely.
• Your blood pressure should be monitored regularly during treatment with this medicine.
• If you are scheduled to have eye surgery for cataracts it is important to let your eye specialist know if you are or have been taking this medicine. This is because this type of medicine may make your pupil dilate poorly and the iris (the coloured circular part of the eye) become floppy during the procedure. The specialist needs to know if you have been taking this medicine so they can take appropriate precautions with the medicines and techniques they use during the surgery. You may be asked to stop taking this medicine for a period of time before cataract surgery. Check with your doctor.

Use with caution in

• Elderly people.
• Decreased kidney function.
• Allergy to alpha-blocker medicines.
• Coronary artery disease or angina pectoris.
• People taking blood pressure lowering medication.

Not to be used in

• People taking other alpha-blocker medicines.
• Decreased liver function.
• History of drops in blood pressure that cause dizziness when moving from a lying down or sitting position to sitting or standing (postural hypotension).
• This medicine is not recommended for people who have ever fainted after passing urine (micturition syncope).

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Label warnings

• Take this medication with or after food.
• This medication is to be swallowed whole, not chewed.
• This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Feeling faint.
• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Nausea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia).
• General feeling of being unwell (malaise).
• Balance problems involving the inner ear (vertigo).
• Drowsiness.
• Dry mouth.
• Diarrhoea.
• A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension).
• Fainting (syncope).
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia).
• Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations).
• Chest pain.
• Flushing.
• Excessive fluid retention in the body tissues, resulting in swelling (oedema).
• Rash or itching.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

If this medicine is taken with other medicines that can reduce blood pressure, this effect may be enhanced, with an increased chance of dizziness or fainting. Other medicines that may reduce blood pressure include the following:

• anaesthetics
• antipsychotics
• baclofen
• diuretics, eg furosemide
• medicines for high blood pressure (antihypertensives)
• nitrates, eg glyceryl trinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, amyl nitrate (poppers)
• other alpha-blockers, eg prazosin, doxazosin (this medicine must not be taken with other alpha-blocker medicines)
• phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for impotence, eg sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil.

The following medicines may increase the blood level of alfuzosin and could therefore increase the risk of side effects:

• itraconazole
• ketoconazole
• ritonavir.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Besavar XL

Xatral

Zufal XL

Alfuzosin tablets are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.

 

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002809.html