Silodosin Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Silodosin Capsule (generic name: silodosin) is a prescription alpha blocker used by men to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is taken by mouth once daily with a meal and works by relaxing muscles in the prostate and bladder to improve urine flow. It is sometimes used off-label to help pass kidney stones.

What is Silodosin Capsule

Silodosin is a prescription medicine used by men to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It comes as a capsule you swallow by mouth.

Silodosin Capsule uses

• Treats signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH) such as difficulty starting urination, weak urine stream, frequent or urgent need to urinate, and waking up at night to urinate
• Sometimes used off-label to help pass kidney stones (urolithiasis)

Benefits of Silodosin Capsule

• Relaxes muscles in the prostate and bladder so urine can flow more easily
• Helps reduce the frequent, urgent, or nighttime need to urinate
• Helps with a weak or difficult urine stream

How Silodosin Capsule works

Silodosin blocks certain receptors in the prostate, bladder neck, and urethra, which relaxes the muscles there. This improves urine flow and reduces BPH symptoms, but it does not shrink the prostate itself.

Silodosin Capsule dosage

Take with a meal once daily; do not take on an empty stomach since this reduces absorption. Take at around the same time every day, ideally with the same meal each time, to help you remember.

If you have trouble swallowing the capsule, open it and sprinkle the powder into a small amount of cool applesauce, then swallow right away within 5 minutes without chewing, followed by a glass of cool water. Do not use hot applesauce and do not save the mixture for later.

Continue taking it even if you feel well; it controls symptoms but does not cure the underlying condition. This medicine is only for men and is not meant for women or children.

Your doctor may have you take your first dose with food at bedtime to reduce dizziness risk when starting treatment or restarting after a break. Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.

Available forms and strengths

• Capsule (4 mg and 8 mg)

Side effects of Silodosin Capsule

Common

• Reduced or no semen during orgasm (retrograde ejaculation)
• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Low blood pressure, especially when standing up

Serious

• Fainting or severe dizziness when standing up (orthostatic hypotension)
• Painful erection lasting several hours
• Signs of liver problems such as yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, clay-colored stools, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual tiredness
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, hives, or widespread rash
• Skin blistering or peeling (toxic epidermal necrolysis)
• Pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin or unusual bruising

Warnings and precautions

• Pregnancy: Silodosin is not meant for women, including those who are or could become pregnant. If a pregnant woman takes it accidentally, she should contact her doctor.
• Breastfeeding: Silodosin is not meant for women, including those who are breastfeeding, since it isn't known if it passes into breast milk.
• Kidney: People with severe kidney disease should not take this medicine. Those with moderate kidney disease should use it carefully since the body may clear the drug more slowly.
• Liver: This medicine should not be used by people with severe liver disease.
• Alcohol: It is not known for certain how alcohol affects silodosin, but drinking alcohol may increase the risk of side effects like dizziness.
• Driving: This medicine can make you dizzy or less alert, so avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you.
• Do not take silodosin together with certain medicines like clarithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, or ritonavir, since this combination can cause serious side effects.
• Silodosin can cause a serious eye complication during cataract or other eye surgery called Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome. Tell your eye doctor you are taking or have taken this medicine before any eye surgery.
• BPH symptoms can be similar to prostate cancer symptoms, and the two conditions can occur together. Your doctor may test for prostate cancer before starting this medicine.
• This medicine can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, especially when standing up quickly. Rise slowly to reduce this risk.

Storage

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light
• Keep from freezing
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed
• Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use
• Do not flush this medication down the toilet; use a medicine take-back program if possible

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have a painful erection that lasts for several hours.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, clay-colored stools, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual tiredness, which could be signs of a liver problem.
• If you feel dizzy or faint, especially after standing up, sit or lie down right away. Call your doctor if this does not improve.
• Seek emergency medical help if you or someone else takes too much silodosin, or if symptoms like dizziness, fainting, or blurred vision occur after an overdose.
• Stop taking silodosin and get help right away if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, or widespread hives.

Alternatives

• Terazosin
• Doxazosin
• Alfuzosin
• Tamsulosin