Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Xatral (Alfuzosin). If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Xatral (Alfuzosin) with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Xatral (Alfuzosin). Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• dizziness
• fainting or lightheadedness, especially when rising from a sitting or lying down position
• fatigue or weakness
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting

Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• chest pain
• irregular or racing heart rate
• signs of liver problems (e.g., yellow skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, or itching)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• long-lasting (more than 4 hours) and painful erection of the penis
• signs of Stroke (e.g., sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arms, or legs, and speech or vision problems)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Xatral (Alfuzosin).

Each once-daily, prolonged-release, 3-layer, round, and biconvex tablet, contains 10 mg of Xatral (Alfuzosin) HCl in a white matrix layer between 2 inactive yellow layers. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal hydrated silica, ethylcellulose, hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (hypromellose), magnesium stearate, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and yellow ferric oxide.

Do not take Xatral (Alfuzosin) if you:

• are allergic to Xatral (Alfuzosin) or any ingredients of the medication
• have moderate to severe impairment of liver function
• take itraconazole, ketoconazole, or ritonavir
• take other alpha-1-blockers for blood pressure or prostate problems

There may be an interaction between Xatral (Alfuzosin) and any of the following:

• Aliskiren
• alpha agonists (e.g., Clonidine, methyldopa)
• alpha/beta agonists (e.g., Epinephrine, norepinephrine)
• Amiodarone
• angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs; Captopril, Ramipril)
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., Candesartan, Irbesartan, Losartan)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Apalutamide
• Aprepitant
• "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole)
• beta-adrenergic blockers (e.g., Atenolol, Propranolol, Sotalol)
• Bicalutamide
• Bosentan
• brimonidine
• Buprenorphine
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• Cobicistat
• conivaptan
• Cyclosporine
• Deferasirox
• Degarelix
• Dexamethasone
• Disopyramide
• diuretics (water pills; e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene)
• dofetilide
• Domperidone
• Dronedarone
• Enzalutamide
• Flecainide
• grapefruit juice
• Guanfacine
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Hydralazine
• Lomitapide
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Methadone
• mifepristone
• Minoxidil
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• Nitroglycerin
• other alpha blockers (e.g., Doxazosin, Tamsulosin)
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (e.g., Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil)
• primidone
• procainamide
• quinidine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin,)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rilpivirine
• Ropinirole
• St. John's wort
• Sarilumab
• serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron)
• Sertraline
• siltuximab
• Tetrabenazine
• Tizanidine
• Tocilizumab
• tolcapone
• Trazodone
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Clomipramine, Imipramine)
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., Crizotinib, Dabrafenib, imatinib, Lapatinib, Pazopanib, Sunitinib)

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Xatral (Alfuzosin). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Xatral (Alfuzosin).

Angina: Xatral (Alfuzosin) may cause increased heart rate or decreased blood pressure, which may affect control of angina symptoms. People with angina (chest pain) should stop using Xatral (Alfuzosin) if their symptoms reappear or become worse.

Cataracts: During eye surgery for cataracts, people who take or have taken Xatral (Alfuzosin) are at risk for developing a condition called Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS). This condition can lead to eye damage. If you will be undergoing cataract surgery, tell your doctor that you are taking a medication that contains Xatral (Alfuzosin). Your surgeon may advise you to temporarily stop taking the medication before the surgery.

Drowsiness/dizziness: Xatral (Alfuzosin) may cause dizziness with the first few doses, affecting your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing other potentially hazardous tasks until you have determined how you are affected by Xatral (Alfuzosin).

Liver function: If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Xatral (Alfuzosin) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Xatral (Alfuzosin), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Orthostatic hypotension (Low Blood Pressure upon arising): Xatral (Alfuzosin) can cause orthostatic hypotension, leading to dizziness or fainting when rising from a sitting or lying down position. If you feel faint or dizzy when getting up, lie down until the symptoms pass. This effect often goes away as treatment with Xatral (Alfuzosin) is continued. People with orthostatic hypotension should use caution while taking Xatral (Alfuzosin), as it may worsen their condition.

Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) cause many of the same symptoms. These two diseases frequently coexist. Before starting Xatral (Alfuzosin) therapy, an evaluation should take place to rule out prostate cancer.

QT prolongation: Xatral (Alfuzosin) can lengthen heartbeat as shown on an electrocardiogram test, also known as QT prolongation. If you have heart disease and abnormal heart rhythms, or are taking certain medications (e.g., Verapamil, atazanavir), discuss with your doctor how Xatral (Alfuzosin) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Xatral (Alfuzosin), and whether any special monitoring is needed. If you develop heart palpitations (fast or irregular heartbeat) or experience fainting spells, stop taking Xatral (Alfuzosin) and contact your doctor immediately.

Women: Xatral (Alfuzosin) is not recommended for use by women.

Children: Xatral (Alfuzosin) is not recommended for use by children.