Alfuzosin
Alfuzosin is an alpha blocker for benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate) that helps urine flow; PockDose keeps alfuzosin 10mg extended-release tablets in a once-daily dose.
What alfuzosin is for
Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) take alfuzosin. An enlarged prostate narrows the passage urine travels through, so the stream is slow, starting takes effort and night-time trips multiply. Alfuzosin is an alpha blocker, a medicine that relaxes smooth muscle, here in the prostate and at the bladder neck, which widens the passage. A weak or stop-start stream, straining, and the feeling that the bladder has not quite emptied are the signs it targets. The prostate stays the same size, so symptoms are held in check rather than cured and the tablet is a long-term daily one.
Taking the 10mg tablet
PockDose stocks Alfuzosin tablets as 10mg extended-release tablets: one a day, swallowed whole directly after a meal, the same meal each day, whether that is breakfast or dinner. The slow-release design stretches the dose over 24 hours, so splitting, crushing or chewing a tablet defeats it, and on an empty stomach less of the medicine is absorbed.
What to expect, and side effects
Dizziness and lightheadedness are the effects men notice most, particularly in the first days and when rising quickly from a chair or bed; getting up in stages usually helps. Tiredness, headache, a stuffy or runny nose, stomach pain, heartburn, constipation, nausea and a fall in sexual ability are also reported, along with sore throat, fever, chills and cough. Fainting or chest pain should be checked promptly. A swollen tongue, throat or lips, hoarseness, or trouble breathing or swallowing needs urgent treatment.
Interactions to know about
Medicines that lower blood pressure, and other alpha blockers, can deepen alfuzosin's effect on blood pressure, and alcohol does the same. Cimetidine, the antifungal ketoconazole and ritonavir all change the way the body handles alfuzosin. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are worth leaving out while you take it. Until you know how the tablets affect you, hold off driving or using machinery.
Ordering alfuzosin
Alfuzosin is a medicine for men only, and it is not used by men with severe liver disease. The 10mg extended-release tablet is the form kept at PockDose, sitting in the men's health range alongside other treatments for prostate and urinary symptoms.
Sources
- Alfuzosin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Alfuzosin HCl 2.5 mg film-coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) | 5205 — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Is Alfuzosin available to order in Hong Kong?
Yes, Alfuzosin can be ordered online from PockDose with delivery to Hong Kong. The range is Alfuzosin tablets, a 10mg tablet. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted payment page, or by Bitcoin or Ethereum.
How much do Alfuzosin products cost in Hong Kong?
Alfuzosin is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Do I need a prescription to order Alfuzosin?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order alfuzosin. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for alfuzosin?
Uroxatral is a brand name of alfuzosin, which is also sold as Xatral. Here, alfuzosin can be bought online as alfuzosin tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can I drink alcohol with alfuzosin?
Alcohol widens blood vessels too, so with alfuzosin it deepens the blood-pressure dip and makes dizziness and fainting likelier, mostly in the first days. Go light, or skip it, until you know how the tablets sit with you.
Should I take alfuzosin with food?
Yes: straight after a meal, and ideally the same meal each day so the timing stays steady. Whole tablets only, because a split or crushed one gives up its dose too fast. Without food, the body takes up less alfuzosin.
What happens if I stop taking alfuzosin?
The urinary symptoms come back, because alfuzosin relaxes the muscle around the prostate and bladder neck only while it is in your system; it does not shrink the gland. Men who want to keep the improvement usually stay on the tablet long term.
Does alfuzosin lower blood pressure?
It relaxes blood vessels as well as the prostate muscle, so it can lower blood pressure enough to cause dizzy spells when you stand up. The effect is strongest when treatment starts and is more noticeable if you also take blood pressure medicines or other alpha blockers.