About tamsulosin
Tamsulosin belongs to a group of medicines called alpha-blockers. It’s used to treat men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostate enlargement).
It’s also occasionally taken to treat kidney stones.
Tamsulosin is available on prescription and you can also buy it from pharmacies. It comes as tablets and capsules.
If you buy tamsulosin from a pharmacy make sure you see your doctor within 6 weeks of starting your treatment to make sure it’s OK for you to carry on taking this medicine.
Tamsulosin is also known by brand names such as Flomax Relief and Flomaxtra XL.
Tamsulosin is sometimes combined with other ingredients to treat bladder problems and enlarged prostate. Brand names include Vesomni (with solifenacin) and Combodart (with dutasteride).
2. Key facts
- Tamsulosin helps reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland by relaxing the muscles in the bladder and prostate so you can pee more easily.
- When you first take tamsulosin, it may make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. If this happens it’s best to sit or lie down until your feel better.
- Tamsulosin is taken once a day, usually in the morning after breakfast or the first meal of the day.
- The main side effects of tamsulosin are feeling dizzy and problems when men ejaculate (such as little or no semen).
3. Who can and can’t take tamsulosin
Tamsulosin can be taken by adults (aged 18 and over).
Do not give this medicine to children, unless on the advice of a specialist.
Tamsulosin is not suitable for some people. To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell a doctor if you:
4. How and when to take it
Tamsulosin comes as slow-release tablets and capsules (also called modified release, prolonged release, MR or XL).
This means the medicine is released into your body gradually.
How much will I take?
The usual dose of tamsulosin for enlarged prostate and kidney stone is 400 micrograms, once a day. The word microgram is sometimes written with the Greek symbol μ followed by the letter g (μg). A microgram is 1,000 times smaller than a milligram (mg).
How to take it
Swallow your tamsulosin capsules or tablets whole with a glass of water.
Do not break, chew or crush them.
If you can, take tamsulosin in the morning, after breakfast or the first meal or snack of the day. This is so the highest levels of medicine are in your body during the day and gives you the most benefit when you are most likely trying to pee.
It’s best to take it at about the same time each day.
What if I forget to take it?
If you miss a dose of tamsulosin, and you remember within 6 hours, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s more than 6 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time the next day.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
What if I take too much?
Taking too much tamsulosin can lead to a decrease in your blood pressure and an increase in your heart rate. You may feel drowsy, faint and lightheaded.
Urgent advice:Call 111 for advice now if:
- you take too much tamsulosin and feel unwell
If you need to go to hospital, do not drive yourself – get someone else to drive you or call an ambulance.
Take the tamsulosin packet, or the leaflet inside it with you plus any remaining medicine.
5. Side effects
Like all medicines, tamsulosin can cause side effects, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.
Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine.
Common side effects
These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They’re usually mild and short-lived.
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or last more than a few days:
- feeling dizzy – especially when you sit or stand up
- problems when men ejaculate – such as little or no semen
Serious side effects
Call a doctor straight away if you have:
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing – these can be signs of lung problems
- yellow skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellow – these can be signs of liver problems
- bruising or bleeding easily – these can be signs of a blood problem