Alfuzosin has been on the market for 30 years and is a proven treatment for prostatic hyperplasia. The alpha blocker relaxes the muscles of the prostate gland, leading to easier urination, and can be used in both mild and severe cases.
What is alfuzosin?
Alfuzosin relaxes the muscles of the prostate and urethra, urinary flow is improved, and the symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia are reduced or disappear. Alfuzosin belongs to the group of alpha blockers and as an antagonist relaxes the muscles of the prostate and urethra. Urinary flow is improved and the symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia are lessened or disappear. Alfuzosin does not change the actual cause of the disease – the prostate remains enlarged – but only combats the symptoms of the disease. Alfuzosin is used exclusively to treat men and has no effect on women.
Pharmacologic action
Alfuzosin is administered in tablets that typically contain five milligrams of the active ingredient. After alfuzosin is administered, the drug acts exclusively on the prostate gland if the patient suffers from a severely enlarged prostate. This condition, known as hyperplasia, causes problems with urination, which includes, in particular, frequent (but at the same time significantly more difficult) emptying of the bladder. Patients suffering from prostatic hyperplasia report severe problems, especially at night, making restful sleep impossible. The alpha-blockers contained in alfuzosin are designed to allow the muscles within the prostate to relax and at the same time relax the bladder neck, making emptying the bladder easier and, in the best case, painless. Alfuzosin does not affect any other organs unless the drug has side effects. Alfuzosin is ineffective in women. Elderly patients are more prone to side effects and interactions with other medications, so in these cases the dosage is lowered to the lowest amount. Because alfuzosin may cause dizziness, patients should be careful not to operate machinery or drive after initial administration.
Medicinal Application and Use
Treatment of prostatic hyperplasia with alfuzosin usually involves tablets or a saline solution containing the active ingredient of the drug. Except for this application, there are no diseases or conditions that are treated by alfuzosin. When taken orally in tablet form, care should be taken to take alfuzosin after a meal if possible. In the most frequent cases of application in persons under 65 years of age, tablets with an active ingredient content of five milligrams are used, which are taken in the morning, at noon and in the evening. Retard tablets with an active ingredient content of ten milligrams are taken once daily at set times. Alfuzosin is a drug that does not have any negative effects on the body even when taken over a long period of time. It is therefore suitable for long-term treatment of prostatic hyperplasia, provided that none of the side effects outlined in Section 5 occur. If alfuzosin is forgotten to be taken, do not take double the amount to compensate. This often results in a drop in blood pressure, which can be dangerous in certain circumstances, such as when operating machinery. Patients should instead contact their physician in these cases and decide on a course of action.
Risks and side effects
Alfuzosin may cause generalized fatigue and dizziness with an incidence greater than 1%, and headache and/or abdominal pain may also be reported. A general feeling of weakness is also among the common side effects of alfuzosin. Furthermore, the drug may cause drowsiness and fainting, as well as increased heart rate, and cause rhinitis, diarrhea, or skin rash. Swelling in the joints or feet may also be observed. In a very few cases, alfuzosin administration may also lead to angina if the patient has coronary artery disease. This is often accompanied by severe itching.Excessive dosage of alfuzosin may further result in an abrupt drop in blood pressure immediately after standing up, which may also cause dizziness and general drowsiness.
