- July 6, 2023
- By Dr. Sarah Thompson, PharmD
Uroxatral is generally selected for men whose benign prostatic hyperplasia causes persistent urinary symptoms, because its active ingredient, alfuzosin, blocks alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in the lower urinary tract and relaxes smooth muscle around the prostate and bladder neck, helping improve urine flow and reduce hesitancy, incomplete emptying, and other BPH-related difficulties without directly shrinking the prostate.
Treatment of BPH can also influence sexual well-being, since urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction often occur together. Alfuzosin is not an erectile dysfunction treatment, but some clinical studies have reported improvements in erectile and ejaculatory function in men with BPH who also had sexual dysfunction.
Why Is This Drug Prescribed for an Enlarged Prostate?
BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate adenoma) is a benign growth of gland tissue, its increase in volume. The overgrown gland compresses the urethra passing through it, causing urination disorders, which is the main symptom of the disease.
The urethra is compressed so much that the muscles are not able to withstand the load and pass urine. As a consequence, the man can get inflammation of the bladder, ureters, and kidneys. The pain appears, sleep is disturbed, and symptoms of cystitis and urethritis join in.
Moreover, there is a possibility of “paradoxical urinary retention”. This is a condition in which a man is unable to empty himself on his own, although he feels a strong urge to do so. There is a retrograde reflux of urine.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is detected in 20% of men aged 40, but for individuals over 60 years, this number grows to 70%. The majority of men over 80 years suffer from BHP. The main reason for the development of BPH is a natural change in the hormones of a man with age. a decrease in testosterone levels with age).
A study of patients with prostate cancer showed that in 80% of cases, the development of a malignant process occurred alongside long-term benign prostatic hyperplasia. All these facts show that it is necessary to treat this condition as soon as possible. In the early stages, it is possible to treat this health problem only with medications, while later stages require more serious treatment, including surgery.
Dosage and Administration of Uroxatral
Uroxatral should be swallowed without chewing. The typical dose is 5 mg when you wake up and before you go to bed. In other words, individuals would take 10 mg on a daily basis. In some cases, the doctor might prescribe 2.5 mg three times a day. It is recommended to begin treatment with an evening dose.
Older men and individuals taking medication for hypertension should take only 2.5 mg twice a day or 5 mg daily in the evening and increase the dose gradually only if necessary and up to no more than 10 mg/day.
After oral use, the drug dissolves in the gastrointestinal tract. The maximum concentration in the blood reaches 2-3 hours later at 10.3 ng/ml. The time of food intake does not affect the absorption of the active substance.
After 8 hours, the medication enters the liver. It is excreted from the body naturally – up to 30% in urine, and 80-90% in feces. In elderly men over 70 years of age, the bioavailability increases due to a decrease in Alfuzosin entering the liver. Individuals with renal insufficiency might have an increase in clearance.
Cost at Canadian Pharmacy Spot
In the US, the price of this medication can be around $800 to $900 per bottle (30 tablets) with a 10mg dosage. In Canadian Pharmacy Spot, the generic version that has the same active ingredient costs up to $100 for 90 tablets with the same dosage. Given that men are typically prescribed smaller dosages, the drug expense can be even lower.
| Product | Strength | Quantity | Price | Price per Tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Uroxatral / Xatral XL | 10 mg | 30 tablets | $40.40 | $1.35 |
| Brand Uroxatral / Xatral XL | 10 mg | 90 tablets | $108.07 | $1.20 |
| Generic Uroxatral | 10 mg | 90 tablets | $42.99 | $0.48 |
| Generic Uroxatral | 10 mg | 100 tablets | $32.99 | $0.33 |
The price difference between brand and generic alternatives makes many go for the generic version without a lot of thinking. After all, reliable pharmacies offer generics only from well-trusted manufacturers, so the drug action is on par with the brand. Buying this medication requires a prescription from a doctor.
Is Uroxatral from Canada Comparable to the U.S. Version?
Canadian and U.S. alfuzosin products are comparable in their main therapeutic component, although the product name and manufacturer may differ. In the United States, Uroxatral is marketed as a 10 mg extended-release tablet containing alfuzosin hydrochloride. In Canada, Health Canada lists the original product as Xatral 10 mg extended-release tablets and also lists several approved generic versions containing the same active ingredient and strength.
The main points to compare are:
- Active ingredient. U.S. Uroxatral and Canadian Xatral contain 10 mg of alfuzosin hydrochloride.
- Release form. Both are extended-release oral tablets designed to release the medication over an extended period rather than all at once.
- Prescription status. Alfuzosin 10 mg is a prescription medicine in both countries. Health Canada currently lists Xatral and several generic alternatives as prescription products.
- Brand and appearance. The Canadian package may say Xatral, APO-Alfuzosin, Sandoz Alfuzosin, Auro-Alfuzosin, or another approved name rather than Uroxatral. Tablet appearance and non-medicinal ingredients can therefore differ even when the active ingredient and strength are the same.
When evaluating Uroxatral or an equivalent product offered by Canadian pharmacy, the brand name alone is less important than confirming the active ingredient, 10 mg strength, extended-release formulation, and Health Canada authorization. The current Canadian Drug Product Database lists several marketed alfuzosin 10 mg extended-release products.
Do I Need a Prescription to Order This Medication from Canada?
This medication is available in Canada by prescription, so a Canadian pharmacy should require a valid prescription before it can be dispensed. The prescription should identify the medication, the 10 mg extended-release strength, and the dosing instructions provided by the treating healthcare professional.
Ordering the medication from Canada does not remove the need for medical authorization. The pharmacy may also review basic patient and prescriber information before processing the order, especially when the medicine is intended for ongoing treatment of urinary symptoms related to BPH.
If the order is being shipped from Canada to the United States, a separate set of import requirements may also apply. The prescription requirement and the rules governing cross-border shipment are therefore two different parts of the process.
Side effects
Uroxatral, which is often used to treat an enlarged prostate, can cause anejaculation (no ejaculation) as a side effect. This is when sperm is not released during the sexual act. It is not dangerous, but sometimes worries men. In this case, it is enough to simply replace the drug with one that does not have this side effect. If a man is planning to conceive, but taking drugs like Uroxatral has caused him to anejaculate, he should stop treatment and make an appointment with the medical specialist to discuss another treatment option for BPH.
Among other side effects, men most often experience nausea, diarrhea, gastralgia, headache, dizziness, and general weakness and fatigue. Orthostatic hypotension, edema, drowsiness, asthenia, tachycardia, dry mouth, redness of the skin, skin rashes, and itching happen less often. Sometimes, exacerbation of symptoms of angina pectoris (in patients with coronary artery disease) can be one of the side effects of this medication.
Overdose
If the individual is experiencing arterial hypotension and reflex tachycardia, it is likely that he did not adhere to the recommended dosage and took more than necessary. Overdose often happens when individuals forget to take the medicine on time and take it shortly before or with the next dose to make up for the missed one.
The treatment for an overdose consists of hospitalization and constant monitoring of blood pressure. Accordingly, you need to contact the emergency or go to a medical center on your own. With a decrease in blood pressure, the introduction of vasoconstrictors and plasma substitutes is recommended (to increase BCC).
After the restoration of normal blood pressure, control over it should be carried out for at least another day. It should be noted that due to the high degree of binding of the active ingredient to plasma proteins, hemodialysis is not effective.
Prevention is the best way to go. Accordingly, if you are taking any medications, set reminders and use other strategies to ensure proper adherence to the treatment plan, including dosages and timing of their receival.
Interactions
Many prescription and non-prescription drugs may interact with Uroxatral, and some should not be taken concurrently. Whenever you start or stop taking any drugs, you should let your doctor know right away.
Individuals cannot take the drug with antihypertensive drugs. Otherwise, they are risking the development of cardiovascular insufficiency, loss of consciousness, and lowering of blood pressure.
Before a planned surgery under anesthesia, it is necessary to inform the doctor about the medication being taken. It is forbidden to use similar drugs in action, alpha-blockers at the same time.
Some medicines may cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with Uroxatral. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you are also using:
- an antibiotic;
- antifungal medicine;
- heart medications;
- an antiviral drug for the treatment of hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS; or
- medicines that also belong to alpha-blockers.
It should also be noted that combining the medication with alcoholic beverages is not recommended.
Important information
Uroxatral may make you feel lightheaded or faint. If you happen to carry out something that demands attention, you must exercise caution. Additionally, people should refrain from exercising or from exercising heavily. You should also avoid getting up too rapidly from a sitting or reclining position since doing so might make you feel queasy.
Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions to ensure that you can safely take Uroxatral. For instance, people suffering from cardiovascular health issues should undergo therapy under the supervision of a doctor. In other cases, the medication might be completely prohibited to prevent life-threatening situations. Nitrate medications, for example, should not be combined with these pills. A prostate cancer is also a contraindication.
If the condition worsens, it is the treatment plan should be reconsidered. This also applies to elderly patients and those suffering from serious kidney pathologies.