Drug Name

Flomax (Tamsulosin)

Drug Uses

Flomax is used for treating enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia; BPH).It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How Taken

Use Flomax as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Flomax . Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information. Take Flomax by mouth 30 minutes after eating the same meal each day.
• Swallow Flomax whole. Do not break, crush, chew, or open capsules before swallowing.
• If you miss a dose of Flomax , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If you miss more than 2 dose of Flomax , contact your doctor for instructions.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Flomax is an alpha-blocker. It works by relaxing muscles in the prostate and bladder, which helps to improve urine flow and reduce symptoms of BPH.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch.

Storage

Store this product at the room temperature of 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees (15-30 degrees C) is permitted.

Warnings/Precautions

Do NOT use Flomax if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Flomax
• you are taking another alpha-blocker (eg, prazosin)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Some medical conditions may interact with Flomax . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
• if you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, difficulty breathing, dizziness) to any sulfonamide (sulfa) medicine, such as acetazolamide, celecoxib, certain diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide), probenecid, sulfamethoxazole, valdecoxib, or zonisamide.
• if you have a history of high blood pressure or prostate cancer
• if you will be having eye surgery.

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Flomax . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Alpha-blockers (eg, prazosin) or phosphodiesterase inhibitors (eg, sildenafil) because symptoms of low blood pressure (eg, severe dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting) may occur
• Azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), cimetidine, or serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors (eg, fluoxetine) because they may increase the risk of Flomax 's side effects
• Warfarin because the risk of side effects may be increased.

Possible Side Effects

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

• Back pain; blurred vision; cough; decreased sexual ability; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; lightheadedness; runny or stuffy nose; sinus inflammation; trouble sleeping; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

• Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; fainting; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; irregular heartbeat; prolonged, painful erection; severe of persistent dizziness.

More Information

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