Rapaflo

Generic Name: silodosin (SIL oh DOE sin)

Brand Names: Rapaflo

What is silodosin?

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.

What is the most important information I should know about silodosin?

You should not take silodosin if you have severe kidney or liver disease, or if you are also using ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ritonavir (Norvir).

Do not take silodosin with other similar medicines such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), tamsulosin (Flomax), or terazosin (Hytrin).

Silodosin may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Avoid standing for long periods of time or becoming overheated during exercise and in hot weather. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

Silodosin can affect your pupils during cataract surgery. Tell your eye surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medication. Do not stop using silodosin before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.

There are many other drugs that can interact with silodosin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking silodosin?

You should not take silodosin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

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  severe kidney disease;

  
  


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  severe liver disease; or

  
  


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  if you are also using ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ritonavir (Norvir).

  
  

Do not take silodosin with other similar medicines such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), tamsulosin (Flomax), or terazosin (Hytrin).

If you have liver or kidney disease or a history of prostate cancer, you may need a silodosin dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

Silodosin can affect your pupils during cataract surgery. Tell your eye surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medication. Do not stop using silodosin before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.

Although this medication is not for use in women, silodosin is not expected to harm an unborn baby. If you are a woman using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Silodosin is not for use in children.

How should I take silodosin?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Silodosin is usually taken once daily with a meal. Silodosin lowers blood pressure and may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it. Call your doctor if you have severe dizziness or feel like you might pass out.

You may feel very dizzy when you first wake up. Be careful when standing or sitting up from a lying position.

Your blood pressure and prostate will need to be checked often. Visit your doctor regularly.

Some things can cause your blood pressure to get too low. This includes vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, heart disease, dialysis, a low-salt diet, or taking diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme dizziness or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking silodosin?

Silodosin may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

To prevent dizziness, avoid standing for long periods of time or becoming overheated during exercise and in hot weather.

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. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of silodosin.

Silodosin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using silodosin and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  feeling like you might pass out; or

  
  


• penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.

Less serious side effects may include:

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  mild dizziness;

  
  


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  headache;

  
  


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  diarrhea;

  
  


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  abnormal ejaculation; or

  
  


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  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.

What other drugs will affect silodosin?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

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  conivaptan (Vaprisol);

  
  


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  imatinib (Gleevec);

  
  


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  isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

  
  


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  quinidine (Quin-G);

  
  


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  an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or telithromycin (Ketek);

  
  


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  an antidepressant such as nefazodone;

  
  


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  antifungal medication such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche) or voriconazole (Vfend);

  
  


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  erectile dysfunction medicine such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra);

  
  


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  heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;

  
  


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  HIV/AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), or nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir (Invirase); or

  
  


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  medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).

  
  

This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with silodosin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

More Rapaflo resources

• Rapaflo Side Effects (in more detail)
• Rapaflo Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Rapaflo Drug Interactions
• Rapaflo Support Group
• 29 Reviews for Rapaflo - Add your own review/rating

• Rapaflo Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Rapaflo Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Rapaflo Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Rapaflo Consumer Overview


• Rapaflo MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Silodosin Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Rapaflo with other medications

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about silodosin.

See also: Rapaflo side effects (in more detail)