Alfuzosin Orion
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Alfuzosin Orion 2.5 mg film-coated tablets
Alfuzosin hydrochloride
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
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Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
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If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
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If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Alfuzosin Orion is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Alfuzosin Orion
3. How to take Alfuzosin Orion
4. Possible side effects
How to store Alfuzosin Orion
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Alfuzosin Orion is and what it is used for
Alfuzosin Orion belongs to a group of medicines called alpha-1-blockers. Alfuzosin is used to treat moderate to severe symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. This is a condition where the prostate gland enlarges (hyperplasia), but the growth in itself is not cancerous (it is benign). It is more common in older men.
The prostate gland is situated under the bladder surrounding the urethra (the tube that takes your urine to the outside of the body). With age, the prostate gland may grow and press on the urethra making it smaller. This may cause problems with urination such as frequent urination and difficulty in passing urine.
Alfuzosin works by relaxing the prostate gland muscle. This reduces the narrowing of the urethra and so makes it easier to pass urine.
What you need to know before you take Alfuzosin Orion
Do not take Alfuzosin Orion
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If you are allergic to alfuzosin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, swelling of your lips, throat, or tongue, difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
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If you have, or have had in the past, low blood pressure when standing up from a sitting or lying position (the medical term for this is orthostatic hypotension). It can make you feel dizzy, light-headed or faint when you stand or sit up quickly.
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If you have severe liver problems.
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If you are already taking another alpha-1-blocker (such as terazosin, doxazosin). See section below on Other medicines and Alfuzosin Orion. If in doubt please ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine if:
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You have a heart disease.
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You have chest pain (angina).
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You are known to have an abnormality of electrocardiogram (ECG), called “QT prolongation”.
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You have had a stroke or short-lasting symptoms similar to stroke, there is a risk of decreased blood flow to parts of the brain.
Some patients, particularly those who are also taking medicine for high blood pressure or medicines for chest pain (angina pectoris) may get dizziness, weakness or sweating within a few hours of taking a dose. If this happens, you should lie down until the symptoms have completely disappeared. Let your doctor know as he may decide to adjust your dose.
Other medicines and Alfuzosin Orion
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Do not take Alfuzosin Orion if you are taking:
Other alpha-blockers such as doxazosin, indoramin, prazosin, terazosin, tamsulosin or phenoxybenzamine.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine if:
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In the past, you have had a large fall in blood pressure while taking an alpha-blocker (this could include previous use of alfuzosin). See paragraph immediately above for examples of other alpha-blockers.
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You are taking a medicine for high blood pressure, as you may get dizzy, weak or start sweating within a few hours of taking this medicine. If this happens, lie down until the symptoms have completely gone. Tell your doctor as the dose of your medicine may be changed.
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You are taking medicines for chest pain (angina).
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You are taking medicines for fungal infections (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole).
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You are taking medicines for HIV (such as ritonavir).
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You are taking medicines for bacterial infections (such as clarithromycin, telithromycin).
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You are taking medicines for treatment of depression (such as nefazodone).
Operations while taking Alfuzosin Orion
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If you are going to have an operation that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor you are taking Alfuzosin Orion before the operation. This is because it can be dangerous as it can lower your blood pressure.
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If you are undergoing eye surgery because of cataract (cloudiness of the lens) please inform your eye specialist before the operation that you are using or have previously used Alfuzosin Orion. This is because Alfuzosin Orion may cause complications during the surgery which can be managed if your specialist is prepared in advance.
Driving and using machines
You may feel dizzy and weak while taking Alfuzosin Orion. If this happens do not drive or operate any tools or machines.
Alfuzosin Orion2.5 mg film-coated tablet contains lactose.If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
How to take Alfuzosin Orion
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
If you are starting the treatment, it is best if you take the first tablet before you go to bed.
Adults
The usual dose is one tablet three times daily. Your doctor may increase this to four times a day if needed.
Older patients (> 65 years) and patients taking other medicines for high blood pressure
The initial dose is one 2.5 mg tablet twice a day (morning and evening).
Patients with poor kidney function
The initial dose is one 2.5 mg tablet twice a day.
Patients with liver problems
The initial dose is one 2.5 mg tablet daily. Your doctor may increase this to one 2.5 mg tablet twice a day (in the morning and evening).
If you notice that Alfuzosin Orion has too strong or too weak an effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Use in children
Alfuzosin Orionis not recommended for children (16 years or younger).
If you take more Alfuzosin Orionthan you should
Contact your local hospital straight away. Tell the doctor how many tablets you have taken. Lie down as much as possible to help stop the side effects. Do not try to drive to the hospital yourself.
If you forget to take Alfuzosin Orion
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Skip the missed dose and take the next tablet as directed.
If you stop taking Alfuzosin Orion
Keep taking your tablets, even if your symptoms improve. Only stop if your doctor tells you to. The symptoms are better controlled if you continue taking the same dose of this medicine.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines,this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. These side effects are most likely to happen at the start of treatment.
Stop taking Alfuzosin Orion and contact a doctor or go to a hospital immediately if you get any of the following serious side effects:
Chest pain (angina) (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Normally, this only happens if you have had angina before.
Severe allergic reactions (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
You could notice symptoms of angioedema, such as a red and lumpy skin rash, swelling (on the eyelids, face, lips, mouth and tongue), difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Other side effects include:
Common (may affect up to1 in 10 people)
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Feeling dizzy.
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Headache.
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General feeling of being unwell.
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Feeling dizzy or lightheaded when you stand or sit up quickly.
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Feeling sick (nausea).
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Dry mouth.
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Diarrhoea.
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Stomach pain.
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Weakness or tiredness.
Uncommon (may affect up to1 in 100 people)
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Drowsiness.
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Visual disturbances (changes in your vision or sight).
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Fast heart beat (tachycardia), palpitations (pounding in the chest and irregular heart beat).
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Fainting.
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Lack of control over passing urine.
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Runny nose, itching, sneezing, and stuffy nose.
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Uncomfortable feeling in the stomach and indigestion (dyspepsia).
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Being sick (vomiting).
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Rash and itching.
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Hot flushes.
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Water retention (may cause swollen arms or legs).
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Chest pain.
Additional side effects (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)which may occur are:
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Irregular and fast heart beat.
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Decrease blood flow to parts of the brain in patients known to have vascular disturbances in the brain.
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Decrease in white blood cells. Signs may include more frequent infections, sore throat or mouth ulcers.
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Low numbers of blood platelets. Signs may include bleeding from your gums and nose, bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, rash (pinpoint red spots called petechia).
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Abnormal liver function (liver problem). Signs may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
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If you are undergoing eye surgery because of cataract (cloudiness of the lens) and are using or have previously used Alfuzosin Orion, the pupil may dilate poorly and the iris (the coloured circular part of the eye) may become floppy during the procedure. This only occurs during the operation and it is important for the eye specialist to be aware of this possibility as the operation may need to be performed differently (see section “Operations while taking Alfuzosin Orion”).
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Abnormal, often painful, persistent erection of the penis unrelated to sexual activity (priapism).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Alfuzosin Orion
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicineafter the expiry date which is stated on the blister, bottle or cartonafter EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Alfuzosin Orioncontains
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The active substance is alfuzosin hydrochloride. Each film-coated tablet contains 2.5 mg alfuzosin hydrochloride.
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The other ingredients are in tablet core: sodium starch glycolate (Type A), microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, povidone, magnesium stearate and in film-coating: hypromellose, macrogols and titanium dioxide (E 171).
What Alfuzosin Orionlooks like and contents of the pack
Film-coated tablet.
White to off-white round, biconvex, film-coated tablets debossed with ‘X’ on one side and ‘31’ on other side.Diameter of the tablet is 6.1 mm.
Pack-sizes:
Blister pack: 30 and 90 tablets
Bottle pack: 100 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Orion Corporation
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland
Manufacturer
Orion Corporation Orion Pharma
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland
This leaflet was last revised on 20 May 2016