Cardura Xl 8mg
1. What Cardura XL is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Cardura XL
3. How to take Cardura XL
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER Cardura® XL 8mg tablets
(Doxazosin mesilate)
You medicine is know as the above but will be referred to as Cardura XL throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
It is also available in 4mg and this will be referred to throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
Important things that you SHOULD know about your medicine:
• Cardura XL is a treatment for high blood pressure, or the symptoms caused by enlargement of the prostate gland in men.
• 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.
• You should take Cardura XL regularly to get the maximum benefit, even if you are feeling well.
• Most people do not have serious problems when taking Cardura XL but side effects can occur - see Section 4 for details. If you experience swelling of the face, tongue or windpipe, see your doctor immediately. 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.
• Taking other medicines may sometimes cause problems. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this or any other medicines.
• If you are, or are trying to become pregnant, do not take Cardura XL and tell your doctor.
Please read the rest of this leaflet. It includes other important information on the safe and effective use of this medicine that might be especially important to you. If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What Cardura XL is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Cardura XL
3. How to take Cardura XL
4. Possible side effects
5. Storing Cardura XL
6. Further information
Cardura XL is one of a group of medicines called alphablockers.
It is used to treat high blood pressure, or the symptoms caused by enlargement of the prostate gland in men.
Cardura XL can be used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), by relaxing blood vessels so that blood passes through them more easily. This helps to lower blood pressure.
In patients with an enlarged prostate gland, Cardura XL is taken to treat poor and/or frequent passing of urine. This is common in patients with an enlarged prostate gland. Cardura XL works by relaxing muscle around the bladder exit and prostate gland so urine is passed more easily.
Do not take Cardura XL:
• If you have had an allergic reaction in the past to Cardura XL, the active ingredient doxazosin, other types of quinazolines (such as prazosin or terazosin), or any of the other ingredients listed in section 6. This may have been itching, reddening of the skin or difficulty in breathing.
• If you are breast-feeding
• If you have any form of obstruction of the digestive tract
• If you are under 18 years of age
• If you have an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and have low blood pressure
• If you have a history of a condition known as 'orthostatic hypotension' which is a form of low blood pressure that causes you to feel dizzy or light-headed when you stand up from sitting or lying down
• If you have an enlarged prostate gland with one of the following: any kind of congestion or blockage in your urinary tract, a longstanding infection of the urinary tract or you have bladder stones.
• If you have overflow incontinence (you do not feel the urge to urinate), or anuria (your body is not producing any urine) with or without kidney problems.
Take special care with Cardura XL:
The following are reasons why Cardura XL may not be suitable for you:
• If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• If you have liver disease
• If you have heart disease
• If you are also taking other medicines
If you are undergoing eye surgery because of cataract (cloudiness of the lens of the eye) please inform your eye specialist before the operation that you are using or have previously used Cardura XL. This is because Cardura XL may cause complications during the surgery which can be managed if your specialist is prepared in advance.
If any of these apply to you speak to your doctor before taking this medicine.
When you start to take Cardura XL you may experience faintness or dizziness caused by low blood pressure, when getting up from sitting or lying down. If you feel faint or dizzy, you should sit or lie down until you feel better and avoid situations where you might fall or hurt yourself. Your doctor may want to measure your blood pressure regularly at the start of therapy to reduce the possibility of these effects happening.
Taking other medicines:
There are some medicines that may interact with Cardura XL:
• Some patients who take alpha-blocker therapy for the treatment of high blood pressure or prostate enlargement may experience dizziness or light-headedness, which may be caused by low blood pressure upon sitting or standing up quickly. Certain patients have experienced these symptoms when taking drugs for erectile dysfunction (impotence) with alpha-blockers. In order to reduce the likelihood that these symptoms occur, you should be on a regular daily dose of your alpha blocker before you start drugs for erectile dysfunction.
• Cardura XL may lower your blood pressure even more if you are already taking other medicines to treat your high blood pressure such as terazosin and prazosin.
You should always tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently
taken any other medicine, even those not prescribed, because they
might interact with Cardura XL.
Taking Cardura XL with food and drink:
Cardura XL can be taken with or without food.
Pregnancy:
The safety of using Cardura XL during pregnancy has not been established. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant speak to your doctor and he/she will decide if Cardura XL is suitable for you.
Breast-feeding:
Do not take Cardura XL if you are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machinery:
Take care if you drive or operate machinery. Your tablets may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely, particularly when you first start to take them. They may make you feel weak or dizzy. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery and contact your doctor immediately.
Cardura XL is a modified release tablet. The medicine is contained within a non-absorbable shell that has been specially designed to slowly release the medicine. Once swallowed, doxazosin is slowly released into the body from the tablet, until the tablet is empty.
Since the empty tablet is eliminated from the body in bowel movements, you may occasionally observe in the stools, something that looks like a tablet. This is to be expected and you should not be concerned.
How to take your medicine
- The usual dose of Cardura XL is one 4mg modified release tablet taken as a single daily dose each day.
- Your doctor may wish to increase your dose to 8mg. This is the maximum dose of Cardura XL.
- Swallow Cardura XL whole with water. Do not chew, divide or crush the tablets.
- Take your tablets as your doctor told you or by following the days and arrows on the blister foil.
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