BESAVAR XL 10MG TABLETS
alfuzosin hydrochloride
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
- 1. What Besavar XL is and what it is used for
- 2. Before you take Besavar XL
- 3. How to take Besavar XL
- 4. Possible side effects
- 5. How to store Besavar XL
- 6. Further information
What Besavar XL is and what it is used for
The name of your medicine is Besavar XL 10mg Tablets (called Besavar XL throughout this leaflet). Besavar XL contains a medicine called alfuzosin hydrochloride. This belongs to a group of medicines called alpha-blockers.
Besavar XL can be used to treat the symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. 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). This happens mainly in older men.
- 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.
- If the prostate gets bigger, it presses on the urethra making it smaller. This makes it difficult to pass water.
- 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.
- A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is passed into the bladder. This drains the water and relieves the pain.
- During this time, Besavar XL may be used to help the water to flow again. This has only been shown to help in men aged over 65.
Before you take Besavar XL
Do not take Besavar XL and tell your doctor if:
- You are allergic (hypersensitive) to alfuzosin hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6 below)
Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue - You are taking other alpha-blockers to treat Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or possibly to lower your blood pressure. See section below on 'Taking other medicines'.
- You have, or have ever had, something called orthostatic hypotension. This is a drop in blood pressure which usually happens when you stand up. It can make you feel dizzy, light-headed or faint when you stand or sit up quickly
- You have liver problems
Take special care and check with your doctor before taking Besavar XL if:
- You have chest pain (angina)
- You have a condition where your kidneys are hardly working at all
- You have kidney problems
- 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 Besavar XL. This is because Besavar XL may cause complicatiosns during the surgery which can be managed if your specialist is prepared in advance
- You are allergic (hypersensitive) to other alpha blockers such as doxazosin, tamsulosin
- You are taking medicines for high blood pressure. Your doctor should monitor your blood pressure regularly while you are taking this medicine. This is particularly important at the start of your treatment.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Besavar XL.
Taking Besavar XL with other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because Besavar XL and some other medicines can affect the way each other work.
Do not take this medicine, and tell your doctor, if you are taking:
- Other alpha-blockers such as doxazosin, indoramin, prazosin, terazosin, tamsulosin, or phenoxybenzamine.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
- 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 he or she may decide to change the dose of your medicine.
- Medicines such as glyceryl trinitrate for chest pain (angina)
- Medicines for fungal infections (such as ketoconazole and itraconazole) and HIV (ritonavir).
Operations and tests while taking Besavar XL
- If you are being treated for high blood pressure, your doctor should measure your blood pressure regularly, especially at the start of treatment.
- If you are going to have an operation that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor you are taking Besavar XL before the operation. Your doctor may decide to stop you having Besavar XL 24 hours before the operation.
This is because it can be dangerous as it can lower your blood pressure.
Taking Besavar XL with food and drink
- Take Besavar XL after a meal.
- You may feel dizzy and weak while taking Besavar XL. If this happens do not drink any alcohol.
Driving and using machines
You may feel dizzy and weak while taking Besavar XL. If this happens do not drive or operate any tools or machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Besavar XL
Hydrogenated castor oil: This can cause stomach upset and diarrhoea.
How to take Besavar XL
Always take Besavar XL exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
- Swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water
- Do not break, crush or chew your tablets. This can affect the release of your medicine into the body.
- Take this medicine after a meal.
How much to take
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- The usual dose is one Besavar XL tablet once a day.
Acute Urinary Retention
- Besavar XL will be given to you by your doctor on the day you have the catheter inserted.
- You should continue taking Besavar XL once a day.
- You should stop taking Besavar XL the day after the catheter is removed (3-4 days in total).
If you take more Besavar XL than you should
Contact your local hospital Accident and Emergency department straight away. Tell the doctor or nurse 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 Besavar XL
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 Besavar XL
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 about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Besavar XL can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking Besavar XL and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away if:
- You get swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. You could also notice an itchy, lumpy rash (hives) or nettle rash (urticaria). This may mean you are having an allergic reaction to Besavar XL tablets.
- You have chest pain (angina). This usually only happens if you have had angina before. This side effect is very rare
- You have a painful erection of the penis, not related to sexual activity, which will not go away. This side effect has only been reported in a very small number of people taking Besavar XL.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get serious or lasts longer than a few days. Also tell them if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet
Common side effects (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Headache
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Stomach pain
- Weakness or tiredness
Uncommon side effects (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
- Feeling dizzy light-headed or faint when you stand or sit up quickly (postural hypotension)
- A fast heart beat (tachycardia) and pounding in the chest and uneven heartbeat (palpitations)
- Chest pain
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhoea
- Dry mouth
- Rash and itching
- Flushes
- Water retention (may cause swollen arms or legs)
- General feeling of being unwell
Additional side effects (frequency not known) which may occur are:
- Abnormal liver function (liver problem). Signs may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
- Occasionally problems have arisen during cataract surgery in patients taking alfuzosin. If you are due to have eye surgery because of cataract it is important that you tell the specialist before the operation that you are using, or have used, Besavar XL.
How to store Besavar XL
- Keep this medicine in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it.
- Store in the original packaging.
- Do not use Besavar XL after the expiry date which is stated on the carton.
- Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Further information
What Besavar XL 10mg Tablets contain
Each tablet contains 10mg of alfuzosin hydrochloride as the active substance.
The other ingredients are, ethyl cellulose, hydrogenated castor oil, hypromellose, yellow ferric oxide (E172), magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, colloidal hydrated silica and mannitol.
What Besavar XL looks like and contents of the pack
Besavar XL 10mg Tablets are round, biconvex, three layer tablets: one white layer between two yellow layers. They are supplied in blister packs of 30 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder is:
Manufacturer is:
This leaflet was last revised in:
September 2008
'Winthrop' is a registered trademark
© 2008 Winthrop Pharmaceuticals.
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