Generic Name: silodosin (SIL oh DOE sin)Brand Names: Rapaflo
Silodosin is in a group of drugs called alpha-adrenergic (AL-fa ad-ren-ER-jik) blockers. Silodosin helps relax the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.
Silodosin is used to improve urination in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).
Silodosin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Before taking silodosin, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, or prostate cancer.
Also tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially other prostate medications, antibiotics, HIV/AIDS medications, or heart or blood pressure medications.
Silodosin should be taken with food to reduce the chance of side effects. Silodosin can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Silodosin can affect the pupils of your eyes during cataract surgery. If you have cataract surgery while you are taking silodosin, or even long after you stop taking it, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you have taken this medication. Do not stop using silodosin before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.severe kidney disease;
severe liver disease; or
if you are also using ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ritonavir (Norvir).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. Before taking silodosin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
prostate cancer; or
if you are taking another alpha-blocker such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), tamsulosin (Flomax), or terazosin (Hytrin) for high blood pressure or prostate problems.
Take silodosin exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not take silodosin for longer than your doctor has prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Silodosin should be taken with food to reduce the chance of side effects.It is important to use silodosin regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Silodosin can affect the pupils of your eyes during cataract surgery. If you have cataract surgery while you are taking silodosin, or even long after you stop taking it, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you have taken this medication. Do not stop using silodosin before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to. Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.See also: Silodosin dosage in more detail
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Overdose can cause severe dizziness, or fainting.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Stop using silodosin and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
severe dizziness;
feeling like you might pass out;
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
Less serious side effects may include:
mild dizziness, weakness;
headache;
sleep problems (insomnia);
diarrhea, stomach pain;
decreased amount of semen released during sex; or
runny or stuffy nose, sore throat.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Usual Adult Dose for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia:
8 mg orally once a day with a meal
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
conivaptan (Vaprisol);
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
imatinib (Gleevec);
isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or telithromycin (Ketek);
an antifungal medication such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche) or voriconazole (Vfend);
heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);
HIV/AIDS medicine such as amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), or ritonavir (Norvir);
an antidepressant such as nefazodone;
any other medicine to treat high blood pressure or prostate problems.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with silodosin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.