Flomax
® (
tamsulosin hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed as treatment for an
enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate is also known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or
BPH.
Flomax is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Flomax is part of a class of drugs known as alpha blockers. It works by blocking alpha-1 receptors. Alpha-1 receptors are found in several places of the body, including the prostate gland.
For the treatment of BPH, blocking alpha-1 receptors helps to relax the muscles of the prostate and the bladder neck (where urine leaves the bladder). Flomax does not shrink the prostate, as some other BPH medications do. However, by relaxing the muscles of the prostate and bladder, it helps to quickly relieve BPH symptoms. While the drug can help with symptoms, it is not a cure for BPH.
Symptoms of BPH
In studies of Flomax for BPH treatment, men were asked to rate the following symptoms:
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Frequent urination
- Intermittent stops and starts in the urine flow
- Feeling of urgency when needing to urinate
- Weak urine stream
- Having to get up to urinate frequently during the night.
The men who took Flomax had significant improvement in their BPH symptoms compared with the men who did not. This improvement was usually seen within the first week and lasted throughout the study period (13 weeks).
Urine Flow
Men who took Flomax also had an improvement in the rate of urine flow. This increased flow rate was seen as early as the first week after starting
BPH treatment with the drug and continued throughout the entire study.
When and How to Take Flomax
General considerations for when and how to take Flomax include the following:
- Flomax comes in capsule form. It is taken by mouth once daily, 30 minutes after a meal.
- The capsules should be taken whole and should not be opened, chewed, or crushed.
- The medication should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level in your blood.
- For Flomax to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. The medication will not work if you stop taking it.
When first starting Flomax (or if you have been off the drug for several days), the dose is 0.4 mg once daily. If the medication does not seem to be working after two to four weeks at this dose, your healthcare provider may increase your dose to 0.8 mg once daily.
As with any medication, do not adjust your Flomax dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Flomax. However, not everyone who takes it will experience side effects. In fact, most men tolerate the drug well. If side effects do occur, they are often minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
The most common side effects include:
(Click Flomax Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report to your healthcare provider.)
You can also read about specific side effects in the following eMedTV articles:
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Flomax?
Talk with your healthcare provider before taking the drug if you have any
allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives, especially a sulfa allergy.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you currently take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose?
People who take too much Flomax may have overdose symptoms that can include:
If you happen to take too much, seek immediate medical attention.
How Should Flomax Be Stored?
Flomax should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture or heat. The capsules should be kept in an airtight container. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your Flomax as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Flomax capsules are available in one strength -- Flomax 0.4 mg.
There are currently no generic versions of Flomax available for sale
(see Generic Flomax for more information).
