Silodosin (Rapaflo): Basics, Side Effects & Reviews (2023)

How silodosin (Rapaflo) works

Silodosin (Rapaflo) is an alpha-1 blocker. This means it specifically blocks a receptor located on your prostate and bladder to relax those muscles and make it easier for you to urinate.

What is silodosin (Rapaflo) used for?

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Typical dosing for silodosin (Rapaflo)

The typical dose of silodosin (Rapaflo) is 8 mg once daily with a meal.

Is silodosin (Rapaflo) the same as Flomax?

How quickly does silodosin (Rapaflo) work?

Can you drink alcohol while taking silodosin (Rapaflo)?

Does silodosin (Rapaflo) shrink the prostate?

Can I take Viagra with silodosin (Rapaflo)?

Always take silodosin (Rapaflo) with a meal. Taking it on an empty stomach can lead to more side effects.

If you have a hard time swallowing the capsule, you can open it up and sprinkle what's inside onto a tablespoon of applesauce. Once sprinkled you should swallow the spoonful immediately without chewing. After this, drink a full glass of water to make sure all the medication has been swallowed.

Avoid using heavy machinery and other activities that require a lot of coordination when you first start this medication. This medication can cause side effects that make these activities more difficult so it's best to wait until you know how this medication affects your body.

Silodosin (Rapaflo) can make people feel dizzy or lightheaded, especially when they go from laying down or sitting to standing. This can be dangerous if the dizziness causes you to fall. When you are standing up, try to hold on to something like a sturdy table to help support your weight and don't stand up too quickly.

There are some medications that can raise the amount of silodosin (Rapaflo) in your body. Make sure you talk to your provider about all the medications you are taking; your provider might need to change the doses of your medications to make sure you are getting the right amount of everything you are prescribed.

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LOW BLOOD PRESSURE

• Risk factors: Taking other blood pressure medications

Silodosin (Rapaflo) can cause dizziness from your blood pressure going too low. This can happen when you go from sitting to standing. This is usually worse when you first start taking silodosin (Rapaflo) and in some cases this can cause you to lose consciousness. Be extra careful when driving or using heavy machinery when you first start taking this medication.

KIDNEY PROBLEMS

Silodosin (Rapaflo) cannot be used in people with severe kidney problems because the levels of the medication will be too high in your body. For those who have mild-moderate kidney problems, silodosin (Rapaflo) can still be used, but the dose will be 4 mg daily instead of 8 mg.

LIVER PROBLEMS

Silodosin (Rapaflo) cannot be used by people with severe liver problems.

DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS

• Risk factors: Taking other medications

Silodosin (Rapaflo) interacts with a number of medications. There are some medications that can slow down the breakdown of silodosin (Rapaflo) and cause the levels to go too high in your body. There are other medications that having overlapping side effects and can make the side effects worse. Make sure you talk to your doctors and pharmacists about all the medications you are taking. They might need to change the doses of the medications you are taking.

PROSTATE CANCER

Many of the symptoms of prostate cancer and enlarged prostate overlap. Your doctor will examine you for prostate cancer to rule it out before treating you for BPH.

FLOPPY IRIS SYNDROME

• Risk factors: Cataracts surgery

Tell your eye doctor if you are or have ever taken silodosin (Rapaflo) in the past. Although rare, some people have experienced this rare eye condition during cataract surgery.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Atazanavir
• Boceprevir
• Clarithromycin
• Cobicistat
• Idelalisib
• Indinavir
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Nefazodone
• Nelfinavir
• Ritonavir
• Saquinavir
• Telithromycin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alfuzosin
• Bunazosin
• Cyclosporine
• Dapiprazole
• Doxazosin
• Moxisylyte
• Phenoxybenzamine
• Phentolamine
• Prazosin
• Simeprevir
• Tamsulosin
• Terazosin
• Tolazoline
• Trimazosin
• Urapidil

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Sildenafil
• Tadalafil
• Vardenafil

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