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Xatral
Tablets
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| Main Use |
Active Ingredient |
Manufacturer |
Enlarged prostate gland
|
Alfuzosin hydrochloride |
Sanofi-Synthelabo
|
How does it work?
Alfuzosin hydrochloride belongs to a class of medicines
called alpha blockers. It works by blocking alpha receptors
which 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 (benign prostatic hyperplasia), pressing on the urethra
and obstructing the flow of urine from the bladder. This
can cause various urinary symptoms such as poor flow of
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.
What is it used
for?
- Enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
Warning!
- 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.
- Blood pressure should be monitored regularly during
treatment with this medicine.
- This medicine may cause fatigue and dizziness. If
affected, caution is required when driving or operating
machinery due to the possible reduction in physical
and/or mental ability.
Use with caution
in
- Allergy to alpha-blockers
- Angina pectoris
- Decreased blood supply to the heart (coronary insufficiency)
- Decreased kidney function
- Decreased liver function
- Elderly people
- Individuals taking blood pressure lowering medication
Not to be used in
- History of drops in blood pressure when moving from
sitting to standing, which causes dizziness (postural
hypotension)
- People taking other alpha blockers
- Severely decreased liver function
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.
Pregnancy and
Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy
or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother
outweigh the risks to the unborn baby.Always inform your
doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before
using any medicine.
- This medicine
is for use by men only. It should not be taken by pregnant
or breastfeeding women.
Label warnings
- 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.
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from
lying down to sitting or standing, which results in
dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)
- Drowsiness
- Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation,
nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Increased blood flow to the skin (flushing)
- Excessive fluid retention in the body tissues, resulting
in swelling (oedema)
- Chest pain
- Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
- Fainting (syncope)
- Balance problems involving the inner ear (vertigo)
- Dizziness
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?
When taken in combination
with blood pressure lowering medicines there may be a large
fall in blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness or fainting.
This is most likely to occur with the first dose of this
medicine and can be alleviated by lying down until the symptoms
have completely disappeared.
This medicine should not be taken with other alpha blockers
such as prazosin and doxazosin.
Other medicines
containing the same active ingredients
  
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