Effects of Flomax
| Flomax - tamsulosin |
(tam soo LOW sin)
What is Flomax?
Flomax is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).
Flomax is in a class of drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers. Flomax causes the blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax and expand, so that blood passes through them more easily. This effect relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate.
Flomax may also be used for purposes as well.
What is the most important information I should know about Flomax?
- Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Flomax may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.
- Dizziness is most likely to occur at the start of therapy and when rising from a sitting or lying position. Use caution and rise slowly to avoid falling.
- Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase dizziness caused by Flomax.
- Do not crush, chew, or open the capsules. Swallow them whole.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Flomax?
Before taking Flomax, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions or if you take any other medications. You may not be able to take Flomax, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.
How should I take Flomax?
Take Flomax exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Do not crush, chew, or open the capsules. Swallow them whole.
Flomax is usually taken once a day, approximately one-half hour after the same meal each day. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
If dizziness occurs, taking Flomax after the evening meal may be helpful.
It is important to take Flomax regularly to get the most benefit.
If treatment with Flomax is missed or stopped for several days in a row, contact your healthcare provider before restarting the medication. A lower dose may be necessary.
Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with Flomax to monitor progress and side effects.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of the medication. If treatment with Flomax is missed or stopped for several days in a row, contact your healthcare provider before restarting the medication. A lower dose may be necessary.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
Symptoms of a Flomax overdose include weakness; dizziness; fainting; a weak, fast pulse; cold, clammy skin; and, possibly, loss of consciousness or coma.
What should I avoid while taking Flomax?
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Flomax may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.
Dizziness is most likely to occur at the start of therapy and when rising from a sitting or lying position. Use caution and rise slowly to avoid falling.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase dizziness caused by Flomax.
What are the possible side effects of Flomax?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Flomax and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing;
- closing of the throat;
- swelling of the lips, tongue, or face;
- hives);
- a prolonged (4 hours or more) or painful erection;
severe dizziness; - fainting
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Flomax and notify your doctor if you experience
- mild dizziness or drowsiness,
- weakness,
- double vision,
- abnormal ejaculation, or
- changes in libido.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Flomax?
Before taking Flomax, talk to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- erazosin (Hytrin),
- prazosin (Minipress),
doxazosin (Cardura), - cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), or
- warfarin (Coumadin).
You may not be able to take Flomax, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Flomax. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.
June 14th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
[…] « An Eye for an Eye Effects of Flomax » […]
June 14th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
[…] « Effects of Flomax […]
June 15th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
[…] As quoted from the EyeWorld article, “we found overwhelming evidence that IFIS is associated with the use of tamsulosin (Flomax®), a systemic alpha-1 antagonist medication. This drug relaxes the smooth muscle in the bladder neck and prostate, improving urinary flow in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Flomax is highly selective for the alpha-1A receptor subtype that predominates in the prostate. It is therefore more uroselective compared to other alpha-1 blockers for BPH, such as Hytrin and Cardura. For this reason, it is currently the most commonly prescribed medication for BPH. Interestingly, we did not find that Hytrin or Cardura caused IFIS.” The studies say their review of the pharmacologic literature suggests that the same alpha-1A receptor subtype is also present in the iris dilator smooth muscle. “We postulate that prolonged pharmacologic blockade results in loss of normal iris dilator smooth muscle tone. This deficient tone produces the floppy iris behavior caused by normal intraocular fluid currents during surgery,” wrote the authors. The authors described the clinical features of IFIS, based upon more than 30 cases that are reported in their paper. In addition to subnormal preoperative pupil dilation, IFIS is characterized by repeated incisional prolapse of a billowing, floppy iris, causing progressive intraoperative miosis that is not prevented by sphincterotomies and mechanical pupil stretching. Their retrospective study documented a higher rate of posterior capsule rupture. […]