Tamsulosin belongs to a group of medicines called alpha blockers.
It's used to treat men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostate enlargement). It's also occasionally taken to treat kidney stones and prostatitis.
Alpha blockers reduce blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels so blood can pass through them more easily.
Tamsulosin helps to reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland by relaxing the muscle around the bladder and prostate gland so you can pee more easily.
This medicine is available on prescription and you can also buy the brand Flomax Relief from pharmacies. It comes as tablets and capsules.
If you buy tamsulosin from a pharmacy, see a GP within 6 weeks of starting your treatment to make sure it's OK for you to carry on taking this medicine.
Tamsulosin is sometimes combined with other ingredients to treat bladder problems and enlarged prostate. Brand names include Vesomni (with solifenacin) and Combodart (with dutasteride).
Key facts
- When you first take tamsulosin, you may feel dizzy or light-headed, or start sweating. If this happens it's best to sit or lie down until your feel better. Do not drink alcohol, drive, cycle or use tools or machinery.
- You'll take tamsulosin once a day, usually in the morning after breakfast or the first meal of the day.
- The main side effects of tamsulosin are feeling dizzy and problems when ejaculating (such as little or no semen).
- Alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of tamsulosin, which can make you feel dizzy or light-headed. It's best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.
- Other brand names include Cositam XL, Flomax Relief, Losinate MR, Omsula MR, Tamfrex XL, Tamsumac MR and Tamurex MR.