Cardura XL 4 mg 28 tablets

Cardura XL 4 mg 28 tablets

Composition:

Each tablet contains:

 4.85mg doxazosin mesylate equivalent 

to 4mg doxazosin 

Inactive ingredients: 

Polyethylene oxide, sodium chloride, hypromellose, red ferric oxide (E172), titanium dioxide (E171), magnesium stearate, cellulose acetate, Macrogol, pharmaceutical glaze, black iron oxide (E172), ammonium hydroxide and propylene glycol.

Properties:

Doxazosin competitively inhibits alpha-1-adrenergic receptors in the sympathetic nervous system. Doxazosin causes peripheral vasodilation, reducing peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure. It causes the blood pressure to decrease in both the standing and the supine positions. Standing heart rates increase slightly, and the drug’s effects on blood pressure and heart rate are more pronounced while the patient is standing. Doxazosin also alters lipid metabolism, decreasing the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increasing the high-density lipoprotein/total cholesterol ratio. The implications of these changes are not known. As an antihypertensive, doxazosin does not worsen and may decrease LVH, does not worsen insulin resistance, and exerts mild to negligible effects on sexual dysfunction.

Indications:

-treatment of hypertension.

treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia -(BPH)

Dosage and administration:

CARDURA XL is a prolonged 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 recommended dose of CARDURA XL is one 4mg prolonged 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. 

– If you are still not sure, ask your doctor

– It is important to keep taking your tablets. They help to control your blood pressure.

– Do not change the dose or stop taking the tablets without first checking with your doctor.

– Do not wait until your tablets are finished before seeing your doctor.

If you take more CARDURA XL than you should:

Taking too many tablets at once may make you unwell. If several tablets are taken it may be dangerous. Tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest hospital casualty department immediately. 

If you forget to take CARDURA XL:

Do not worry. If you forget to take a tablet, leave that dose out completely. Then go on as before. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.

Side effects:

STOP taking CARDURA XL and call an ambulance immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Heart attack
• Weakness of arms, legs or problems speaking which may be symptoms of a stroke
• Allergic reactions (hypersensitivity). Symptoms include sudden wheezing, tightness in the chest, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, rash or itching (especially the whole body)

Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking CARDURA XL:

• Feeling your heartbeat (palpitations) 
• Increased or decreased heartbeat)
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing
• Chest pain, angina 
• Skin rash or itching 
• Yellowing of the skin or the eyes 
• Low numbers of white blood cells or blood platelets, which may result in bruising or easy bleeding 
• Persistent painful erection of the penis. Seek urgent medical advice.

Common:

• dizziness, feeling of spinning or rotation of surroundings (vertigo), headache 
• low blood pressure 
• swelling of feet, ankles or fingers 
• chest cold, coughing, respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs) infection
• nasal stuffiness, sneezing and/or runny nose caused by inflammation of the lining of the nose (rhinitis)
• stomach/abdominal pains, feeling/being sick
• urinary tract infection, urinary incontinence (inability to control passing urine), inflammation of the bladder (cystitis)
• sleepiness, general weakness 
• indigestion, heartburn, dry mouth
• back pain, painful muscles
• flu-like symptoms

Uncommon:

• constipation, wind, inflammation of the stomach and intestines (gastroenteritis) which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting
• pain or discomfort on passing urine, needing to pass urine more often than usual, blood in urine
• inflammation of the joints (gout), painful joints, general pain
• swelling of the face
• sleeplessness, anxiety, depression 
• reduced or altered sense of touch or sensation of the hands and feet
• increased appetite or loss of appetite, weight gain
• nose bleeds
• ringing in the ears, tremor
• failure/ inability to achieve penile erection
• abnormal results for blood tests which show changes in the way the liver is working

Rare:

• blockage of the digestive tract

Very rare:

• faintness or dizziness caused by low blood pressure when getting up from a sitting or lying  position

• hepatitis (liver inflammation) or bile disorder
• hives, hair loss, red or purple patches on the skin, bleeding under the skin 
• tingling or numbness of the hands and feet

Contraindications:

Do not take Cardura XL if:

• If you are allergic to doxazosin, other quinazolines (e.g. prazosin or terazosin), or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine;
• If you have any form of obstruction of the digestive tract;
• 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.

Warnings and precautions:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking CARDURA XL as it 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 it may cause complications during the surgery which can be managed if your specialist is prepared in advance.

• Pregnancy:

The safety of using CARDURA XL during pregnancy has not been established. If you are pregnant or  are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

• Breast-feeding:

Small amounts of doxazosin, the active substance of CARDURA XL, can get into your breast milk. 

You should not use CARDURA XL during breast-feeding unless your doctor advises you to do so.

• Driving and using machines:

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.

Storage:

Store at a temperature not exceeding 30°C

Package:

Carton box holds 2 strips each of 14 tablets and paper instructions.