Rapaflo (silodosin) is a medication use to manage the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition of an enlarged prostate gland. According to MedlinePlus, Rapaflo belongs to a category of medicines called alpha-blockers, and it relaxes your bladder muscles and prostate to allow for easier urination. According to the Mayo Clinic, you will take anywhere between 4 to 8mg of Rapaflo daily.
Common Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, Rapaflo can cause such common side effects as a headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping and a sore throat. It can cause a runny nose, stomach pain, diarrhea, weakness, decreased ejaculation during sexual intercourse and nasal congestion. These side effects are rather innocuous and are not life-threatening; however, call your doctor if these symptoms do not stop within three to five days.
Dangerous Side Effects
The Mayo Clinic says that Rapaflo can cause cold sweats, chills, confusion, fainting and lightheadedness, especially with changes in position. It can cause jaundice (a medical condition in which your skin and eyes turn yellow) and priapism (condition in which your penile erection lasts for four hours or more). Call 911 immediately when you have these potentially deadly side effects.
Additional Concerns
Do not use Rapaflo if you are hypersensitive to silodosin or its ingredients. You may develop red and itchy skin bumps all over your body, trouble breathing and swelling of your facial features, tongue and throat. Call 911 as these side effects are potentially lethal.
Drugs.com says that you should avoid Rapaflo if you have chronic kidney or liver disease, or prostate cancer. Rapaflo can intensify these conditions and lead to the aforementioned dangerous side effects.
Inform your health care provider if you are taking such medicines as conivaptan, isoniazid, imatinib, antibiotic medications like clarithromycin, antifungal medications such as clotrimazole, HIV medicines such as amprenavir or antidepressant drugs such as nefazodone. Combining Rapaflow with any or all of these medications can evoke the aforementioned effects.
