Tamsulosin
Description
Tamsulosin is used to relieve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland such as difficulty in urination and increased frequency of urination in men. It works by relaxing the muscles of your bladder and prostate which eases urine flow. This medicine is not used in the prevention of prostate cancer.
Tamsulosin can cause side effects like headache, runny nose, abnormal ejaculation, etc. Consult your doctor if these side effects are persistent or getting worse. Avoid activities like driving vehicles and operating machines as this medicine can make you dizzy.
Tamsulosin is usually taken after a meal, as instructed by your doctor. Your doctor will determine the dose depending upon your condition. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor as it can worsen your condition. Try taking this medicine at the same time every day to maintain a constant level in your body.
Tamsulosin is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have liver problems, any other medical conditions, or are undergoing cataract surgery (an eye surgery to replace the lens in the eyes with an artificial lens to correct the blurring of vision) before starting the treatment. Inform your doctor if you are taking other medicines and supplements as they can interact with Tamsulosin and cause undesired effects.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Tamsulosin
- Fever with chills
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Abnormal ejaculation
- Headache
- Runny Nose
- Body pain
- Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
- Trouble sleeping
- Drowsiness
Uses of Tamsulosin
What is it prescribed for?
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of Tamsulosin can be observed in 4 to 8 hours.
- Duration of effectTamsulosin may remain in your body for an average duration of 3-4 days.
- Safe with alcohol?Avoid consuming alcohol while taking Tamsulosin as it may lower blood pressure and cause dizziness, lightheadedness, etc.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported for Tamsulosin.
- Usage in pregnancy?Tamsulosin is not indicated for use in women.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Tamsulosin is not indicated for use in women.
Allergy
Tamsulosin is not recommended for use if you have a known allergy to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Tamsulosin is not indicated for use in women.
Breast-feeding
Tamsulosin is not indicated for use in women.
General warnings
Hypotension
Tamsulosin may lower your blood pressure and cause dizziness, weakness, etc. If you experience such symptoms, sit or lie down until the symptoms disappear. Inform your doctor if the symptoms worsen. This medicine should be used with caution if you have low blood pressure.
Use in women and children
Tamsulosin is not indicated for use in women and children.
Driving or operating machines
Tamsulosin may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some cases. Hence, if you experience such symptoms, avoid performing activities such as driving vehicles or operating machines.
Priapism
Tamsulosin may rarely cause priapism (a condition that causes erection of the penis for a long time that may be painful). Consult your doctor in such cases. If it is left untreated, it may lead to permanent erectile dysfunction.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose of Tamsulosin as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is time for your next scheduled dose. Do not double up the dose to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Tamsulosin.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Consumption of alcohol with Tamsulosin will have an additive effect in lowering the blood pressure.
Instructions
Avoid consuming alcohol while taking Tamsulosin as it may lower blood pressure and cause dizziness, lightheadedness, etc.
Interaction with Medicine
Diltiazem
Erythromycin
Ketoconazole
Disease interactions
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery is an eye surgery performed to replace the lens in your eyes with an artificial lens to correct the blurring of vision. Tamsulosin increases the risk of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (a complication of cataract surgery leading to the small pupil in the eye). Inform your doctor about the use of this medicine before undergoing surgery.
Liver impairment
Tamsulosin should be used with caution if you have severe liver problems as it may lead to the accumulation of this medicine in your blood and increase the risk of side effects. Your doctor may suggest dose adjustments based on your condition.
Renal impairment
Tamsulosin should be used with caution if you have severe kidney problems due to a lack of information on the use of this medicine in such cases. Your doctor may suggest tests to regularly monitor your kidney function while you are taking this medicine.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Tamsulosin as instructed by your doctor. Do not break, crush or chew the tablet/capsule. Avoid taking more or less than the prescribed dose. Take Tamsulosin for the recommended duration.
Tamsulosin can lower your blood pressure. Hence, your doctor may suggest that you frequently monitor your blood pressure. Be careful while standing up from a lying or sitting position as Tamsulosin can make you dizzy.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine as it can cause dizziness.
You may feel improvement in your symptoms in 4 weeks. Contact your doctor if your symptoms are not improving or if you are experiencing serious side effects.
Check the expiry date before taking the medicine. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiry date. Keep this medicine away from children and pets.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Tamsulosin works by relaxing the smooth muscles in your bladder and prostate. Thus, it eases the urine flow.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Alpha-blockers
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Contiflo XL 400 micrograms prolonged release capsules - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 13 September 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - TAMSULOSIN HYDROCHLORIDE capsule. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 13 September 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Tamsulosin: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 13 September 2021].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Tamsulosin. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 13 September 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Faramsil 400 microgram Prolonged-release Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 13 September 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 8 Nov 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.