Formulary
Alfuzosin hydrochloride: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Alfuzosin hydrochloride clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Alfuzosin hydrochloride: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Alfuzosin hydrochloride clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Benign prostatic hyperplasia**
- **Adult** (By Mouth Using Immediate-Release Medicines): 2.5 mg 3 times a day; maximum 10 mg per day.
- **Elderly** (By Mouth Using Immediate-Release Medicines): Initially 2.5 mg twice daily, adjusted according to response; maximum 10 mg per day.
- **Adult** (By Mouth Using Modified-Release Medicines): 10 mg once daily.
**Acute urinary retention associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia**
- **Elderly** (By Mouth Using Modified-Release Tablets): 10 mg once daily for 2-3 days during catheterisation and for one day after removal; max. 4 days.
Cautions
Acute heart failure; cerebrovascular disease; concomitant antihypertensives (reduced dosage and specialist supervision may be required); discontinue if angina worsens; elderly; history of QT-interval prolongation; patients undergoing cataract surgery (risk of intra-operative floppy iris syndrome) Cautions, further information Elderly For alpha 1 -selective adrenoceptor blockers, Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria to aid medication reviews (see Prescribing in the elderly for information). Potentially inappropriate: in those with symptomatic postural hypotension or micturition syncope (risk of precipitating recurrent syncope) in those with persistent postural hypotension i.e. recurrent drop in systolic blood pressure 20 mmHg (risk of syncope and falls).
Contraindications
Avoid if history of micturition syncope; avoid if history of postural hypotension
Side effects
Common or very common Asthenia; diarrhoea; dizziness; dry mouth; headache; malaise; nausea; postural hypotension; vertigo; vomiting Uncommon Abdominal pain; arrhythmias; chest pain; drowsiness; flushing; oedema; palpitations; rhinitis; skin reactions; syncope; visual impairment Rare or very rare Angina pectoris; angioedema Frequency not known Cerebral ischaemia; floppy iris syndrome; hepatic disorders; neutropenia; priapism; thrombocytopenia Side-effects, further information First dose may cause collapse due to hypotensive effect (therefore should be taken on retiring to bed). Patient should be warned to lie down if symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue or sweating develop, and to remain lying down until they abate completely.
Interactions
**Other interactions (2):**
- Concomitant use not recommended: - Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, protease inhibitors, clarithromycin, telithromycin and nefazodone since alfuzosin blood levels may be...
- No pharmacokinetic interaction has been observed in healthy volunteers between alfuzosin and the following drugs: warfarin and digoxin,
Hepatic impairment
For immediate-release preparations manufacturer advises caution in mild to moderate hepatic failure; avoid in severe hepatic failure (risk of increased half-life). For modified-release preparations manufacturer advises avoid in hepatic failure. Dose adjustments For immediate-release preparations manufacturer advises initial dose of 2.5 mg once daily, increased to 2.5 mg twice daily according to response in mild to moderate hepatic failure.
Renal impairment
Avoid use of modified-release preparations if creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/minute as limited experience. M See Prescribing in renal impairment . Dose adjustments For immediate-release preparations, initial dose 2.5 mg twice daily and adjust according to response. M
Medicinal forms
Solution,Tablet,Tablet
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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