Xatral Od
Package leaflet: Information for the user
XatralOD 10 mg prolonged-release tablets
Alfuzosin hydrochloride
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
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.
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 Xatral OD is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Xatral OD
3. How to take Xatral OD
4. Possible side effects
How to store Xatral OD
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Xatral OD is and what it is used for
The name of your tablets is Xatral OD. This belongs to a group of medicines called alpha-blockers.
Xatral OD can be used to treat the symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. This is when the prostate gland enlarges (hyperplasia), but the growth is not cancerous (it is benign). It can cause problems in passing water (urine).
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The prostate gland lies underneath the bladder. It surrounds the urethra. This is the tube that takes your water to the outside of the body.
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If the prostate gets bigger, it presses on the urethra, making it smaller. This makes it difficult to pass water.
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Your tablets work by relaxing the prostate gland muscle. This allows the urethra to get bigger and so makes it easier to pass water.
In a few patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, the prostate gland gets so big that it stops the flow of urine completely. This is called Acute Urinary Retention. This is very painful and you may need a short stay in hospital.
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A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is passed into the bladder. This drains the water and relieves the pain.
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During this time, Xatral OD may be used to help the water to flow again.
What you need to know before you take Xatral OD
Do not take Xatral OD
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If you are allergic to alfuzosin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
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If you are taking another alpha-blocker. See section below on “Taking other medicines”.
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If you have something called postural hypotension. This is a drop in blood pressure which usually happens when you stand up. It can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded or faint when you stand or sit up quickly.
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If you have liver problems.
Do not take this medicine if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Xatral OD.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine if:
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You have severe kidney problems.
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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”
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 Xatral OD
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines including medicines obtained without a prescription.
This is because Xatral OD can affect the way some other medicines work. Some medicines can also have an effect on the way that Xatral OD works.
Do not take Xatral OD 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 Xatral OD
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If you are going to have an operation that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor you are taking Xatral OD 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 Xatral OD. This is because Xatral OD may cause complications during the surgery which can be managed if your specialist is prepared in advance.
XatralOD with food and drink
Take Xatral OD after a meal.
Driving and using machines
You may feel dizzy and weak while taking Xatral OD. If this happens do not drive or operate any tools or machines.
Xatral OD contains hydrogenated castor oil. This can cause stomach upset and diarrhoea.
How to take Xatral OD
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
How much to take
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
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The recommended dose is one Xatral OD tablet once a day.
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Take the tablet after an evening meal.
Acute Urinary Retention
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Xatral OD will be given to you by your doctor on the day you have the catheter inserted.
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You should continue taking Xatral OD once a day after a meal. Follow the advice on your doctor’s prescription.
Method of administration
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Swallow your tablets whole with plenty of water.
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Do not break, crush or chew your tablets. This can affect the release of your medicine into the body.
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Take this medicine after a meal.
Use in children
Xatral is not recommended for children
If you take more XatralOD than 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 XatralOD
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Miss it out and then go on as before.
If you stop taking XatralOD
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.
Chest pain (angina)
Normally, this only happens if you have had angina before. If you get chest pain stop taking your tablets and contact a doctor or go to a hospital immediately. This may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people.
Allergic reactions
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.
These are symptoms of an allergic reaction. If this happens, stoptaking your tablets and contact a doctor or go to a hospital immediately. This may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people.
Other side effects include:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
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Feeling dizzy.
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Headache.
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Feeling sick (nausea).
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Uncomfortable feeling in the stomach and indigestion (dyspepsia).
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Stomach pain.
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Weakness or tiredness.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
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Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint when you stand or sit up quickly.
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Fast heart beat (tachycardia).
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Drowsiness.
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Runny nose, itching, sneezing, and stuffy nose.
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Diarrhoea and being sick (vomiting).
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Dry mouth.
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Rash and itching.
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Water retention (may cause swollen arms or legs).
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Chest pain.
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Hot flushes.
Additional side effects(frequencycannot be estimated from the available data) which may occur are:
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Irregular and fast heart beat
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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 Xatral OD, 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 Xatral OD”).
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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 (see details below). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
[To be completed nationally]
5. How to store Xatral OD
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicineafter the expiry date which is stated on the carton. 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 longeruse. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What XatralOD contains
The active substance is alfuzosin hydrochloride. Each prolonged-release tablet contains 10 mg alfuzosin hydrochloride.
The other ingredients are ethylcellulose, hydrogenated castor oil, hypromellose, yellow iron oxide (E172), magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, silica colloidal hydrated and mannitol.
What XatralOD looks like and contents of the pack
Round biconvex, three layer tablets: one white layer between two yellow layers. Your prolonged-release tablets are available in packs of 10, 30 and 90 tablets in Blister (aluminium/PVC) and 100 tablets (in a bottle).
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
[To be completed nationally]
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
Austria: Xatral Uno10 mg Retardtabletten
Sweden: Xatral OD 10 mg depottablett
This leaflet was last revised in 11 July 2014
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the web site of: {name of MS/Agency}