Prostate · Medication Guide
Alfuzosin in Thailand
What alfuzosin is, how it relieves the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, its side effects, and how men in Bangkok get it legally. Reviewed by a licensed physician at a MOPH-registered men's health clinic.
- Symptom relief in days to weeks
- Thai FDA registered · prescription only
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Noppon Arunkajohnsak (Win)
Menscape Clinic
Last reviewed
11 July 2026
10 mg
One tablet, once daily
extended-release, no dose titration needed
10 h
Half-life in the body
supports steady once-daily dosing
1988
In clinical use since
first approved in Europe, decades of data
<1%
Ejaculation problems in trials
lower than several other alpha-blockers
Key takeaways
Alfuzosin 10 mg is a once-daily prescription tablet that relieves the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH): weak stream, hesitancy, night-time waking.
It works within days to weeks by relaxing muscle in the prostate and bladder neck, but it does not shrink the prostate. Symptoms return if you stop.
In Thailand it is classified as a dangerous drug (ยาอันตราย). It must come from a pharmacist or a doctor. Unlicensed online sellers are illegal and unsafe.
Dizziness and blood-pressure drops on standing are the main side effects. A doctor should check your blood pressure, your other medicines and the cause of your symptoms first.
01
What alfuzosin is & how it works
Alfuzosin is an oral prescription medicine for the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is very common from a man's 50s onward, and the symptoms are unmistakable: a weak or interrupted stream, difficulty starting, dribbling, a feeling of never quite emptying, and waking at night to urinate.
It belongs to the alpha-blocker family. The prostate and bladder neck are wrapped in smooth muscle whose tension is controlled by alpha-1 receptors. Alfuzosin blocks those receptors, the muscle relaxes, and urine passes with less resistance. It is described as clinically uroselective: at the 10 mg once-daily extended-release dose it acts mainly on the lower urinary tract, with less effect on blood-pressure receptors than the older non-selective alpha-blockers.¹
Two honest limits. Alfuzosin relieves symptoms; it does not shrink the prostate, so the underlying growth continues and symptoms return if you stop taking it. And because the same symptoms can come from a urinary infection, an overactive bladder or, less often, prostate cancer, a doctor should confirm the cause before any tablet is prescribed.
The prostate squeezes
An enlarging prostate narrows the urethra, and tense smooth muscle around it narrows it further.
Alpha-1 receptors set the tension
Muscle tone in the prostate and bladder neck is driven by alpha-1 adrenergic receptors.
Alfuzosin blocks the receptors
One 10 mg extended-release tablet daily relaxes that muscle, with limited effect on blood vessels.¹
Urine flows with less resistance
Stream, hesitancy and night-time waking typically improve within the first weeks of treatment.²
02
Getting alfuzosin in Thailand
Thai FDA status
Registered with the Thai FDA and classified as a dangerous drug (ยาอันตราย), sold in Thailand under brands such as Xatral XL and Flotral. Menscape stocks the 10 mg extended-release tablet.³
How Menscape dispenses it
Prescribed by a licensed doctor after an assessment, then dispensed by a licensed pharmacy for pickup at the Asoke clinic or delivery. Teleconsultation with licensed telepharmacy delivery is legal in Thailand.⁴
Skip the grey market
Unlicensed online sellers are illegal, and counterfeit medicines circulate in Thailand. With prostate symptoms there is a second risk: treating them blind can mask an infection or a cancer that needed a diagnosis.⁵
Thai FDA warning. The regulator has repeatedly warned against buying prescription medicines from unlicensed online sellers. A prescription medicine without a prescriber means nobody is accountable for what you receive.⁵
03
Does it work? The evidence
Alfuzosin 10 mg has been tested in randomised, placebo-controlled trials on three continents and has been in clinical use since 1988. In the 12-week pivotal trials behind the U.S. approval, men on alfuzosin improved their International Prostate Symptom Score by around 3.6 points, roughly double the improvement seen on placebo, with gains in peak urinary flow appearing from the first assessment.¹ ²
Two things to know before you start. Relief is quick but not instant: many men feel the difference within the first 1–2 weeks, and the full effect is judged at around 12 weeks. And it is symptom control, not a cure. The prostate itself is unchanged, which is why your doctor may also discuss medicines that shrink the gland if yours is large.⁷
−3.6
Alfuzosin 10 mg
symptom-score improvement at 12 weeks
−1.6
Placebo
same measure, no treatment
Mean change in International Prostate Symptom Score in 12-week randomised placebo-controlled trials (U.S. prescribing information). Individual results vary.¹
04
Side effects & who shouldn't take it
Common side effects
Dizziness was the most frequent in trials (around 6%, versus 3% on placebo), with headache and fatigue close behind. Some men get stomach upset or a drop in blood pressure on standing, usually in the first days of treatment.¹
Rare but serious
Fainting from a sudden blood-pressure drop can occur, mostly early in treatment. Sit or lie down if you feel light-headed. Priapism (a painful erection lasting hours) is rare and is an emergency. Alfuzosin can also affect the iris during cataract surgery, so tell your eye surgeon you take it.¹
Not suitable for
Men with moderate or severe liver impairment, anyone taking potent CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole, itraconazole or ritonavir, and men with a history of fainting on standing. It is not for women or children.¹
Interactions to flag
Other alpha-blockers, blood-pressure medicines and nitrates add to the pressure-lowering effect. ED tablets such as sildenafil or tadalafil can do the same. The combination is often manageable, but your doctor sets the timing. Caution also applies with medicines that prolong the QT interval.¹
05
Alternatives & combinations
Alpha-blocker · same class
Tamsulosin
The most widely prescribed alternative in the same class, with similar symptom relief. Ejaculation problems are reported more often than with alfuzosin, which is worth discussing if that matters to you.⁶
Oral · shrinks the prostate
Finasteride 5 mg
A 5α-reductase inhibitor that gradually reduces prostate volume over about six months. Doctors often combine it with an alpha-blocker when the prostate is large.⁷
Oral · when ED co-exists
Tadalafil 5 mg daily
A daily PDE5 inhibitor licensed for both BPH urinary symptoms and erectile dysfunction. A doctor may consider it when both conditions are present, instead of stacking medicines.⁷
06
How prescription works at Menscape
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Message us on WhatsApp or LINE
Five minutes on your phone: your urinary symptoms, how often they wake you, health history and current medications. PDPA-protected.
Doctor consultation
A licensed Thai physician reviews your case by video call or in clinic at Asoke, checks your blood pressure and symptom pattern, and may recommend a urine test or PSA blood test to rule out other causes.
Prescription, if suitable
If the doctor approves, you receive a prescription. The medication is dispensed by a licensed pharmacy, for pickup or delivery.
Follow-up & monitoring
A check-in at 4–6 weeks reviews your symptoms, blood pressure and any side effects. The plan is adjusted with your doctor as results come in.
The doctor decides. Starting a conversation is not a commitment and does not guarantee a prescription. If alfuzosin is not right for you, your doctor will say so and discuss alternatives.
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Noppon Arunkajohnsak (Win)
Menscape Clinic, Bangkok
“Most men put up with a weak stream and broken sleep for years before asking. BPH is one of the most treatable conditions I see, but assessment comes first, because not every prostate symptom is the prostate.”
- Reviewed
- 11 July 2026
- Next review
- January 2027
- Editorial standard
- Each guide is checked against the Thai FDA label and the primary literature, then reviewed by a licensed physician.
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy alfuzosin over the counter in Thailand?
No. It is classified as a dangerous drug (ยาอันตราย) and must be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist or prescribed by a doctor. Unlicensed online sellers are illegal, and with prostate symptoms self-medicating also skips the diagnosis that matters most.
How quickly does alfuzosin work?
Faster than most prostate medicines. Many men notice an easier stream within the first 1–2 weeks; the full effect is judged at around 12 weeks. If nothing has changed by then, the doctor reviews the diagnosis and the plan.
Does alfuzosin shrink the prostate?
No. It relaxes the muscle around the prostate and bladder neck, which relieves symptoms, but the gland itself keeps its size. For larger prostates a doctor may add or switch to a medicine that shrinks the gland, such as finasteride 5 mg.
Why does it have to be taken straight after a meal?
Absorption drops sharply on an empty stomach, so the label says to take it just after the same meal each day. That consistency keeps the blood level, and so the effect, stable.
Will alfuzosin affect my erections or ejaculation?
Rarely. In trials, ejaculation problems were reported in under 1% of men, lower than with several other alpha-blockers. Priapism is a rare emergency: seek care for any painful erection lasting hours.
Can I take alfuzosin with sildenafil or tadalafil?
Often yes, but it is a doctor's call. Both lower blood pressure, so the doctor confirms you are stable on alfuzosin first and sets the timing between doses. Never combine them on your own.
Is feeling dizzy when I stand up normal?
It is the most common side effect, especially in the first days. Take the tablet after food, stand up slowly, and go easy on alcohol at first. If you actually faint, stop the medicine and contact your doctor.
Could my urinary symptoms be something more serious?
They can be. The same symptoms occur with urinary infections, bladder problems and, less often, prostate cancer. That is why the doctor assesses you first, sometimes with a urine test or PSA blood test, before prescribing anything.
08
References
1. U.S. FDA. Uroxatral® (alfuzosin hydrochloride extended-release tablets) prescribing information. Sanofi. Accessed July 2026.
2. Roehrborn CG. Efficacy and safety of once-daily alfuzosin in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia: a pooled analysis of three double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Urology. 2001;58(6):953-959.
3. Thai Food and Drug Administration — drug registration database, ndi.fda.moph.go.th. Accessed July 2026.
4. Pharmacy Council of Thailand, Notification No. 56/2563 on telepharmacy standards.
5. Thai FDA consumer warnings on purchasing medicines from unlicensed online sellers, oryor.com.
6. MacDonald R, Wilt TJ. Alfuzosin for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms compatible with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review of efficacy and adverse effects. Urology. 2005;66(4):780-788.
7. American Urological Association. Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): AUA Guideline. 2021, amended 2023.
This guide is educational information, not medical advice. Alfuzosin is a prescription medicine that must be prescribed and monitored by a licensed physician. Urinary symptoms need a diagnosis before treatment.
This guide is part of the Menscape prostate library
Explore the condition hubUp twice a night to urinate? Ask a doctor, not a forum.
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