Alfuzosin

Information about Alfuzosin

Alfuzosin (INN, provided as the hydrochloride salt) is an alpha-adrenergic blocker used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.

Alfuzosin is marketed by Sanofi Aventis under the brand name Uroxatral. Alfuzosin was approved by the FDA for treatment of BPH in June 2003.

Side effects

The most common side effects are dizziness (due to postural hypotension), upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and fatigue.

Contraindications

Alfuzosin should be used with caution in patients with severe renal insufficiency, and should not be prescribed to patients with a known history of QT prolongation or to patients who are taking medications known to prolong the QT interval.


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Urologicals (G04)
AcidifiersAmmonium chloride, Calcium chloride
Urinary antispasmodics (primarily antimuscarinics)Darifenacin, Emepronium, Flavoxate, Meladrazine, Oxybutynin, Propiverine, Solifenacin, Terodiline, Tolterodine, Trospium
For erectile dysfunctionAlprostadil, Apomorphine, Moxisylyte, Papaverine, Phentolamine, Yohimbine, PDE5 inhibitors (Avanafil, Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Udenafil, Vardenafil)
Other urologicalsAcetohydroxamic acid, Collagen, Dimethyl sulfoxide, Magnesium hydroxide, Pentosan polysulfate, Phenazopyridine, Phenyl salicylate, Succinimide
For benign prostatic hypertrophy5α-reductase inhibitors: Dutasteride, Finasteride
Alpha blockers: Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Tamsulosin, Terazosin
Herbals: Pygeum africanum, Serenoa repens
An International Nonproprietary Name (INN; also known as rINN, for recommended International Nonproprietary Name) is the official non-proprietary or generic name given to a pharmaceutical substance, as designated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
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In chemistry, hydrochlorides are salts resulting, or regarded as resulting, from the reaction of hydrochloric acid with an organic base (mostly amines). This is also known as muriate, derived from hydrochloric acid's other name: muriatic acid.
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Alpha blockers (also called alpha-adrenergic blocking agents) constitute a variety of drugs which block α1-adrenergic receptors in arteries and smooth muscles.
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MeSH D011470
For other uses of the acronym BPH, see BPH (disambiguation).
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also known as Nodular hyperplasia, Benign prostatic hypertrophy or Benign enlargement of the prostate (BEP)
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The prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male mammalian reproductive system.

The prostate differs considerably among species anatomically, chemically, and physiologically.
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In anatomy, the urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular, and distensible (or elastic) organ that sits on the pelvic floor in mammals. It is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys prior to disposal by urination.
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Sanofi-Aventis

Public (Euronext SAN , NYSE, LSE and FWB)
Founded August 20, 2004 by acquisition
Headquarters Paris, France

Key people Jean-François Dehecq Chairman
Gérard Le Fur CEO
Industry Pharmaceutical
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dizziness. Common descriptions include words such as lightheaded, floating, whoozy, giddy, confused, helpless or fuzzy. Vertigo, Disequilibrium and Pre-syncope are the terms in use by most doctors. Dizziness is sometimes a symptom of a balance disorder.
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MeSH D007024 Orthostatic hypotension (also known as postural hypotension, orthostatic intolerance and, colloquially, as head rush or a dizzy spell
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Upper respiratory tract infection
Classification & external resources

Conducting passages.
ICD-10 J 00-06. , J 30-39.
ICD-9 465.9

Upper respiratory infections, commonly referred to the acronym URI
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Headache
Classifications and external resources

ICD-10 R 51.
ICD-9 784.0

A headache (cephalgia in medical terminology) is a condition of pain in the head; sometimes neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted as a headache.
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Fatigue
Classifications and external resources

ICD-10 R 53.
ICD-9 780.7

DiseasesDB 30079
MedlinePlus 003088

MeSH D005221 The word fatigue
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patient is any person who receives medical attention, care, or treatment. The person is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician or other medical professional.
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MeSH C12.777.419.780.500 Renal failure or kidney failure is the condition in which the kidneys fail to function adequately.

Biochemically, it is typically detected by an elevated serum creatinine.
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QT interval is a measure of the time between the start of the Q wave and the end of the T wave in the heart's electrical cycle. The QT interval is dependent on the heart rate in an obvious way (the faster the heart rate, the shorter the QT interval) and has to be
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Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists
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A section of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System.

G Genito-urinary system and sex hormones

G04B Other urologicals, including antispasmodics

G04BA Acidifiers

G04BA01 Ammonium chloride
G04BA03 Calcium chloride

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Acidifiers are inorganic chemicals that either produce or become acid.

These chemicals increase the level of gastric acid in the stomach when ingested, thus decreasing the stomach pH level.
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Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) (also Sal Ammoniac, salmiac, nushadir salt, zalmiak, sal armagnac, sal armoniac, salmiakki, salmiak and salt armoniack
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Calcium chloride is an ionic compound of calcium and chlorine. It is highly soluble in water and it is deliquescent. It is a salt that is solid at room temperature, and it behaves as a typical ionic halide.
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The urinary system is the organ system that produces, stores, and eliminates urine. In humans it includes two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. The analogous organ in invertebrates is the nephridium.
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antispasmodic (synonym: spasmolytic) is a drug that suppresses smooth muscle contraction, especially in tubular organs. The effect is to prevent spasms of the stomach, intestine or bladder.
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A muscarinic receptor antagonist is an agent that reduces the activity of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.

Examples include:
  • Belladonna alkaloids
  • Scopolamine (L-Hyoscine)

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Darifenacin (Enablex®, Novartis) is a medication used to treat urinary incontinence.

Darifenacin works by blocking the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, which is primarily responsible for bladder muscle contractions. It thereby decreases the urgency to urinate.
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Emepronium (as emepronium bromide) is an anticholinergic drug used in urology as an antispasmodic.


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Flavoxate is an anticholinergic with antimuscarinic effects. Its muscle relaxant properties may be due to a direct action on the smooth muscle rather than by antagonizing muscarinic receptors.

Clinical uses

Flavoxate is used to treat urinary bladder spasms.
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Meladrazine is a drug used in urology as an antispasmodic.


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Oxybutynin is an anticholinergic medication used to relieve urinary and bladder difficulties, including frequent urination and inability to control urination (urge incontinence), by decreasing muscle spasms of the bladder.
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Propiverine is a drug used in urology as an antispasmodic.


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Solifenacin (rINN), marketed as solifenacin succinate under the trade name Vesicare, is a urinary antispasmodic of the anticholinergic class. It is used in the treatment of overactive bladder with or without urge incontinence.
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