Rapaflo: Uses, indications and precautions when using

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1. Uses of the drug Rapaflo

Currently, Rapaflo is indicated for the treatment of symptoms of prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia – BPH) in men. This drug is not able to contract the prostate gland, but it works by helping to relax the muscles in the bladder and prostate. This can help patients significantly improve and reduce symptoms of BPH, including difficulty urinating, weak stream, frequent or urgent need to urinate (including midnight – causing interruptions in urine output). sleep).
Rapaflo belongs to the group of alpha blockers. You should not use this medicine to treat high blood pressure without consulting your doctor.

2. How is Rapaflo used?

Rapaflo will be used orally as directed by your doctor, usually 1 time / day with each meal.
If you find it difficult to swallow this medicine whole, you can sprinkle the contents of the capsule over a small amount of apple sauce (about a tablespoon) before taking it. Then, swallow this mixture immediately, within 5 minutes. You should not chew the mixture and do not store the medicine for the next dose. In case of taking the medicine with apple sauce, you should not use hot apple sauce and should drink a glass of cool water after each dose.
The use of Rapaflo can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, leading to dizziness or fainting. This risk tends to be higher when you first use this medicine, after your doctor increases your dose, or you start treatment again after you stop taking it.
Your doctor may also ask you to take your first dose of Rapaflo with food at bedtime to help your body get used to its effects and avoid injury from dizziness or fainting.
Dosage of Rapaflo will be based on the patient's health condition as well as the patient's ability to respond to treatment. During the course of taking Rapaflo, the patient needs to regularly take the drug as directed by the doctor to be able to get the optimal treatment benefits from the drug. If there are any signs that the symptoms of an enlarged prostate are worsening or not improving despite medication, the patient should contact their doctor for advice as soon as possible.

3. The side effects of the drug Rapaflo

In certain cases, the use of Rapaflo can cause unwanted side effects, such as dizziness, dizziness or problems with ejaculation. If you notice any side effects that persist or worsen, you should immediately notify your doctor for timely correction.
Fainting is considered one of the serious side effects of taking Rapaflo. Rarely, men experience pain or an erection lasting more than 4 hours. If this happens, the patient should stop using the drug and seek medical help immediately to avoid dangerous health complications.
Rapaflo very rarely causes a serious allergic reaction. However, if you notice warning signs of an ongoing allergy, including hives, dizziness, trouble breathing, swelling or itching in your throat/tongue and face; You need to go to a medical facility for an immediate examination.

4. Measures to prevent side effects of Rapaflo

Before using Rapaflo, the patient should talk to the doctor about his or her allergy to the drug or any other medication. Rapaflo may contain some inactive ingredients, which can lead to serious allergic reactions or other notable health problems, experts say.
In addition, to ensure safety and responsiveness to the drug, you should tell your doctor about your medical history, especially kidney disease, low blood pressure, liver disease, cataracts or glaucoma intraocular pressure.
Because Rapaflo can make you feel dizzy, you should not drink alcohol or marijuana during this time. You should also avoid doing activities that require alertness until the dizziness goes away (such as driving or using machines).
Before having surgery, including cataract or glaucoma surgery, patients should also tell their doctor if they are taking or have ever taken Rapaflo and all other medicines.
Older adults tend to be more sensitive to the side effects of medications, especially low blood pressure and dizziness after getting up. These side effects of Rapaflo may increase a person's risk of falling.

5. What drugs can Rapaflo interact with?

Several other alpha blockers may interact with Rapaflo, including terazosin and prazosin. If you are using Rapaflo together with other medicines for erectile dysfunction (ED) or pulmonary hypertension (such as tadalafil and sildenafil), these can lead to drug interactions and causes your blood pressure to drop so low that you feel dizzy or faint. At this point, your doctor may need to adjust your medications to reduce these risks.
In addition, some other drugs can also affect the elimination of Rapaflo from the body and adversely affect the drug's action, including azole antifungals (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole), clarithromycin, boceprevir, cobicistat, cyclosporine, ribociclib, HIV protease inhibitors (such as ritonavir and lopinavir).

6. Some other notes when using Rapaflo

An overdose of Rapaflo can cause dangerous conditions for the patient's health, such as dizziness and fainting. To make sure it's safe to take your medicine, there are a few things you need to do:
Do not share Rapaflo with other people Get regular check-ups or tests, such as a prostate exam or blood pressure. In case of missed dose, the patient needs to take them at the nearest time since the missed dose. Avoid taking it too close to the time of your next dose. Store Rapaflo in a suitable place (such as a medicine cabinet), away from direct sunlight or high humidity environments. Dispose of medication in the correct place as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.

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Reference source: webmd.com