Drug Name Flomax
Flomax (Tamsulosin)

Drug Uses Flomax
Flomax (Tamsulosin) is an alpha-blocker that is used to improve symptoms, associated with an enlarged prostate.

Possible Side Effects Flomax
Dizziness, unusual weakness, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, or runny nose may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: fainting, vision changes. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: sexual problems (difficulty ejaculating, decreased interest in sex), fast heartbeat. In the unlikely event you have a painful, prolonged erection lasting 4 hours or more, stop using this drug and seek immediate medical attention or permanent problems could occur. A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug Class and Mechanism Flomax
Flomax is a drug for the treatment of men who are having difficulty urinating because of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In men, the tube which carries urine from the bladder to the penis (called the urethra) travels through the prostate gland. As men get older, the prostate gland enlarges, and the muscle cells within the prostate gland and the neck of the bladder (which control the flow of urine) tighten. The combination of enlargement and tightening of muscles compresses the urethra and obstructs the flow of urine. This results in difficulty urinating and retention of urine within the bladder. The tightening or contraction of the muscle cells is controlled by nerves. One type of nerve, the alpha adrenergic nerves, cause the muscle cells to tighten by releasing a chemical related to epinephrine (adrenalin). Flomax blocks the effects of this chemical on the muscle cells and causes the muscles to relax. This results in a decrease in obstruction to the flow of urine. There are other drugs which block alpha adrenergic nerves throughout the body and which are used in treating diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and prostate, for example, prazosin (Minipress), terazosin (Hytrin), doxazosin (Cardura), and alfuzosin (Uroxatral). Flomax is more active against the alpha adrenergic nerves of the prostate and bladder neck than these other drugs and has a lesser effect on alpha adrenergic nerves elsewhere in the body. For this reason, flomax causes fewer side effects, especially low blood pressure, than other alpha adrenergic blocking drugs. Moreover, flomax therapy can be started at the optimum dose whereas other alpha adrenergic blocking drugs need to be started at low doses with the doses slowly increased over time in order to minimize the side effects.

More InformationFlomax here
Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., prostate exams, prostate-specific-antigen or PSA, kidney tests), should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details