Leaflet: information for the user
Benestan Retard 5 mg prolonged-release tablets
Alfuzosin hydrochloride
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, because it contains important information for you.
1. What Benestan Retard is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you start taking Benestan Retard
3. How to take Benestan Retard
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Benestan Retard
6. Contents of the pack and additional information
Benestan Retard belongs to a group of medications that act specifically on the urinary tract (bladder, urethra, and prostate).
Benestan Retard is indicated for thetreatment of functional symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
Read carefully the following sections.
Do not take Benestan Retard
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Benestan:
- If you are taking other medications such as ketoconazole and itraconazole (antibiotics).
- Before starting treatment with Benestan Retardyour doctor may perform some tests to rule out the presence of other diseases that may cause the same symptoms as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Before treatment and at regular intervals, you may undergo a rectal examination and, if necessary, blood tests..
- If you are to undergo any surgical intervention, you should inform the anesthesiologist, prior to the intervention, that you are taking Benestan Retard (see section “Use of Benestan Retard with other medications”).
- If you have previously been treated with a similar medication to Benestan Retard.
- If you have cerebral ischemic disorders (circulation problems in the brain) due to the fact that this medication can cause hypotension (decrease in blood pressure). You may have cerebral ischemic disorders that have not yet manifested (see section “Possible side effects”).
- If you have or have had heart disease, as this medication may increase the risk of hypotension (decrease in blood pressure) when administered with nitrates (heart disease medication)(see section “Possible side effects”). If angina pectoris reappears or worsens, treatment with alfuzosin should be discontinued. Inform your doctor if you have any heart-related problems related to the QT interval.
- If you are to undergo eye surgery for cataracts, please inform your doctor before the surgery if you are taking or have taken Benestan Retard previously. This is because Benestan Retard may cause complications during the surgery, which can be taken into account and controlled by your ophthalmologist if you have been informed in advance.
Alfuzosin, like other medications in the same family, may cause priapism (persistent and painful erection of the penis). If this occurs, go immediately to an emergency service for treatment.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist even if any of the circumstances mentioned above have occurred at any time.
Use of Benestan Retard with other medications
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication (especially medications for the treatment of elevated blood pressure), even those purchased without a prescriptionmédica, homeopathic, herbal, and other health-related products, as it may be necessary to discontinue treatment or adjust the dose of one or more of them.
Certain medications, such as those listed below, may increase the risk of hypotension (decrease in blood pressure) when administered at the same time as Benestan Retard:
Medications that should not be used:
Medications that should be taken with caution:
In addition, the administration of general anesthetics to patients treated with Benestan Retard may cause instability of blood pressure, so, in the event of surgical intervention, you should inform the anesthesiologist of the intake of Benestan Retard.
Your doctor will determine whether you should stop taking the medications or if it is necessary to perform a close control or adjust the doses or guidelines.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
This is not applicable as its use is only in males.
Driving and operating machinery
You should be aware that your ability to drive vehicles or operate machinery may be impaired by the possibility of side effects such as dizziness and fatigue, especially at the beginning of treatment. If so, refrain from driving and operating hazardous machinery.
Benestan Retard contains hydrogenated ricin oil
This medication may cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea due to the presence of hydrogenated ricin oil.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication indicated by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Remember to take your medication.
If you estimate that the action of Benestan Retard is too strong or too weak, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
The recommended dosage is orientative and variable. The establishment of the dosing schedule is left to the doctor's discretion.medical
The tablet must be swallowed whole. Any other mode of administration, such as chewing, crushing, crushing, or pulverizing, should be avoided, as these actions may cause inappropriate absorption of the medication, and therefore the rapid appearance of possible adverse reactions.
Adults
1 tablet, twice a day (morning and night), corresponding to 10 mg of alfuzosin per day.
Older patients
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended to start treatment with a dose of 1 tablet at night (5 mg of alfuzosin), which will be increased to 1 tablet twice a day according to clinical response, without exceeding 10 mg of alfuzosin per day.
Renal insufficiency
In patients with mild or moderate renal insufficiency, as a precaution, it is recommended to start treatment with 1 tablet at night (5 mg of alfuzosin), which will be increased to 1 tablet twice a day according to clinical response, without exceeding 10 mg of alfuzosin per day.
In patients with severe renal insufficiency, it is recommended not to use Benestan Retard. Therefore, your doctor will prescribe a treatment with a lower dose, which will be increased according to clinical response.
Liver insufficiency
In patients with mild to moderate liver insufficiency, it is recommended not to use Benestan Retard. Therefore, your doctor will prescribe a treatment with Benestan 2.5 mg.
In Benestan Retard, the medication is contained in the middle of an unabsorbable tablet, especially designed to have a controlled release of the active principle. When this process is completed, the empty tablet is eliminated from the body through the feces, so it is possible that you may find the coating of the tablet in your stools.
Use in children
The efficacy of alfuzosin has not been demonstrated in children aged 2 to 16 years. Therefore, alfuzosin is not indicated for use in children.
If you take more Benestan Retard than you should
If you have taken more Benestan Retard than you should, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or call the Toxicological Information Service, phone: 915 620 420, indicating the medication and the amount taken.You may need to go to the hospital.It is recommended to bring the packaging and the package insert of the medication to the healthcare professional.
You should remain lying down.
If you forgot to take Benestan Retard
If you accidentally forget a daily dose, take the next normal dose. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.
If you have any other doubts about the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
The side effects observed, according to their frequency of presentation: very frequent (may affect more than 1 in 10 patients); frequent (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients); infrequent (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients); rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients); very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 patients); unknown frequency (cannot be estimated from available data), have been:
Nervous System
Frequent: dizziness/dizziness, vertigo, headache
Infrequent: syncope (loss of consciousness), somnolence (drowsiness)
Unknown frequency:cerebral ischemic disorders (blood circulation problems in the brain) in patients who may have had this problem previously but had not yet manifested
Eye Disorders
Infrequent: abnormal vision
Unknown frequency: Intraoperative Flaccid Iris Syndrome (characterized by pupil constriction and iris deformation)
Cardiac Disorders
Infrequent: increased heart rate, palpitations
Very rare: angina pectoris in patients with coronary disease (intense chest pain with radiation to the left arm) (see "Warnings and precautions" section)
Unknown frequency: atrial fibrillation (irregular, uncontrolled rapid heartbeats)
Vascular Disorders
Frequent: orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure drop when changing position, e.g., from lying down to standing) (see "Warnings and precautions" section)
Infrequent: hot flashes
Respiratory System Disorders
Infrequent:inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis)
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Frequent: nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth
Infrequent: vomiting
Hepatobiliary Disorders
Unknown frequency: liver damage and hepatic cholestasis (condition in which bile flow from the liver is obstructed)
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
Infrequent: skin rash, skin itching
Very rare:hives, skin irritation and itching (urticaria), swelling of blood vessels due to fluid accumulation (angioedema)
Reproductive System Disorders
Unknown frequency: priapism (persistent and painful erection of the penis)
General and at the site of administration
Frequent: fatigue, discomfort
Infrequent:edema (swelling), chest pain
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders
Unknown frequency: neutropenia (decrease in the number of white blood cell neutrophils), thrombocytopenia (decrease in the number of platelets).
Reporting of Adverse Reactions
If you experience any type of adverse reaction, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse reaction that does not appear in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System for Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use:https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse reactions, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not remove the tablets from their packaging until it is time to take the medication.
Do not store at a temperature above 30°C.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of packaging and unused medications at the SIGRE collection point at the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of packaging and unused medications. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Benestan Retard
-The active ingredient is alfuzosin hydrochloride. Each tablet contains 5 mg of alfuzosin hydrochloride.
Appearance of the product and contents of the packaging
Benestan Retard is presented in the form of prolonged-release tablets, round, biconvex, pale yellow in color. Packaging with 60 tablets.
Holder of the marketing authorization and responsible for manufacturing
Holder:
sanofi-aventis, S.A.
C/ Roselló i Porcel, 21
08016 Barcelona
Spain
Responsible for manufacturing:
SANOFI WINTHROP INDUSTRIE
Avenue Gustave Eiffel, 30-36
37000 Tours (France)
OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Unibenestan 10 mg prolonged-release tablets: packaging with 30 tablets.
The detailed and updated information on this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS)http://www.aemps.gob.es/
The average price of Benestan retard 5 mg comprimidos de liberacion prolongada in July, 2025 is around 11.8 EUR. Prices may vary depending on the region, pharmacy, and whether a prescription is required. Always check with a local pharmacy or online source for the most accurate information.
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.