Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as BPH, is one of the most common prostate dysfunctions in men older than 50 years of age. Sometimes, prostate enlargement can manifest earlier, and cause urinary tract, bladder, or kidney problems. Flomax (Tamsulosin) has become one of the most popular treatment solutions against BPH.
What is Flomax?
It is well known that men with BPH usually have difficulty urinating because of the enlarged prostate. Flomax, with its active ingredient Tamsulosin is often prescribed to relieve the symptoms of BPH. The medication belongs to the group of drugs, known as alpha-blockers.
Alpha-blockers change the behavior of adrenaline and noradrenaline hormones, which are responsible for relaxing the muscles in the urinary tract. Being a selective alpha-blocker, Flomax targets the urinary tract directly and doesn’t affect other muscles. The medicine helps to improve the urination process.
How to use it?
Although Flomax is well tolerated in most patients, we strongly recommend you to get a health care practitioner’s consultation before taking the medication. It comes in the form of 0.4 mg capsules.
- The standard treatment dose is 0.4 mg per day.
- Take the pill 30 minutes after the same meal each day, with a glass of water.
- Do not chew, crush, or open the capsules.
- If you notice no improvement after 2-4 weeks of treatment, the dose of Flomax can be increased to 0.8 mg per day.
- Use the drug regularly and at the same time to get the best results.
It may take up to 1 month before you see that your symptoms have improved. Consult with your doctor if you see no changes, or if your condition worsens.
The doctor can choose the right dose for you, taking into account your medical condition and response to the treatment.
What happens if you missed a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember about it. However, you should skip the missed dose if it’s almost time for the next scheduled dose. You don’t need to take extra medication to compensate for the missed dose.
If you missed several doses in a row, consult your doctor before restarting the treatment.
Overdose
If you take the medication as recommended by a healthcare practitioner, you are unlikely to have a drug overdose. However, if you took too much of the medicine and suspect overdose, call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical care.
Side Effects of Flomax
The most common adverse reactions caused by the medication include the following:
- Weakness
- Anemia (decreased amount of red blood cells)
- Abnormal taste
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Runny or stuffy nose
Sometimes, patients also experience less common side effects, such as:
- To reduce the risk of it, get up slowly when rising from a lying or a sitting position.
- Low blood pressure.
- Muscle pain.
- Ejaculation problems.
- Upper respiratory tract infections.
More severe side effects occur quite rarely and manifest as an individual allergic reaction to the drug. If you have rash, severe dizziness, itching, swelling, or trouble breathing, you should seek medical care right away.
Precautions
Although Flomax is often prescribed for BPH treatment, some patients can’t take it because of certain medical conditions.
Please pay attention to the below recommendations:
- You should be careful if you are allergic to the main component of the drug or have any other allergies.
- Share your medical history with your doctor or pharmacist. Tell them if you have eye problems (especially glaucoma or cataracts).
- Marijuana and alcohol can increase the side effects of Flomax (especially, dizziness). It is recommended to avoid or limit these substances during the treatment completely.
- If you’re planning a surgery (especially, glaucoma or cataract eye surgery), inform your surgeon that you’re taking or have ever taken Flomax.
Drug Interaction
Drug interaction can change the way Flomax works on you or increase the risks of adverse reactions.
Avoid using Flomax with the following substances:
- Other alpha-blockers (such as Terazosin and Prazosin).
- Drugs for ED treatment (such as Sildenafil or Tadalafil). These can lower blood pressure significantly, which can lead to dizziness or fainting.
- Azole antifungals.
- HIV protease inhibitors.
A doctor or a pharmacist can provide more information about the drug interaction and adjust the dose, or ask you to stop using other medications that change the effect of Flomax.
Storage
Store the capsules out of reach of children and pets, away from moisture and light, and at room temperature. Dispose of the product, if it has expired or you don’t need it anymore.
What makes Flomax special?
- Flomax was approved by the FDA in 1997.
- Tamsulosin provides long-term effectiveness and belongs to the group of safe medications for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
- The first effect of the treatment can be observed in 2 weeks.
- Flomax should be taken just once daily.
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