Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For alfuzosin, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to alfuzosin. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking alfuzosin, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Alpha blockers (medicine for high blood pressure)— This medicine should not be used at the same time as alfuzosin.

• Atenolol (e.g., Tenormin) — Using this medicine at the same time as alfuzosin can cause very low blood pressure and a slower heart beat.

• Cimetidine (e.g., Tagamet) — Using this medicine at the same time as alfuzosin can cause there to be more alfuzosin in your body.

• Diltiazem (e.g., Cardizem) — Using this medicine at the same time as alfuzosin can cause very low blood pressure.

• Itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox) or
• Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral) or
• Ritonavir (e.g., Norvir) — These medicines may cause there to be more alfuzosin in your body and they should not be used at the same time as alfuzosin.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of alfuzosin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Prostatic carcinoma (cancer of the prostate) — This medical condition may have the same symptoms as your medical condition. Your doctor will want to know because different treatment is need for prostatic carcinoma.

• Liver disease, moderate or severe— Patients with this condition should not use alfuzosin.