Alfuzosin

General information

Alfuzosin is a uroselective alpha ₁ -adrenoceptor antagonist used to relieve the symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia [ ]. Its safety has been investigated in a large prospective 3-year open trial in 3228 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. There were no unexpected adverse effects. Only 4.2% of the patients dropped out owing to adverse effects.

In a large database of 7093 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia treated for up to 3 years with alfuzosin in general practice, adverse events were reported in a very complex and uninformative way [ ]. In another paper, the same authors reported on a subcohort of 2829 patients, with special focus on effects on quality of life. Adverse events occurred in 15% of the patients, 1.7% died during the study, and 5.2% had serious effects, which the authors did not detail, but which they stated were not related to treatment. Most adverse effects occurred during the first 3 months of treatment [ ]. In another database of 3095 Spanish patients taking alfuzosin 5 mg bd for 60 days, adverse events were reported in 3.3% of the patients, and led to drug withdrawal in 1.6%; postural hypotension occurred in 1.8% [ ].

In a systematic review 11 trials of alfuzosin in 3901 men were analysed [ ]. Alfuzosin was safe and well tolerated. Most of the reported adverse events, such as dizziness and syncope, were related to its vasodilatory action.

Organs and systems