This medication is used to treat the symptoms of a prostate gland condition called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate). Tamsulosin is an alpha-blocker that works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder neck and prostate. Relaxing these muscles leads to relief of symptoms of BPH such as the feeling of needing to urinate frequently or urgently, weak stream, difficulty in beginning the flow of urine, and the need to urinate during the middle of the night.

This medication should not be used to treat high blood pressure.

Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking tamsulosin and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth, usually once daily. Take the first dose at bedtime to minimize the chances of getting dizzy or fainting. After the first dose, take your regularly scheduled dose 30 minutes after the same meal each day, or take exactly as directed by your doctor.

Swallow this medication whole. Do not crush, chew, or open the capsules. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.

If you have not taken this drug for several days, contact your doctor to re-establish your dosing schedule. To minimize side effects, you will be restarted at the lowest dose. Then the dosage will be gradually increased.

It may take up to 4 weeks to notice an improvement in symptoms. Inform your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks or if they worsen.

Dizziness, unusual weakness, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, blurred vision, runny nose, or problems ejaculating may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, vision changes.

Tell your doctor immediately if this rare but very serious side effect occurs: fast heartbeat.

In the unlikely event you have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours, stop using this drug and seek immediate medical attention, or permanent problems could occur.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking tamsulosin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other alpha-blockers such as alfuzosin, doxazosin or terazosin; or if you have any other allergies.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: prostate cancer, blood pressure problems.

To avoid dizziness or fainting, get up slowly from a lying or seated position, especially when you first start taking this drug or if your doctor changes your dosing. Also, when you first start taking this drug, avoid situations where you may be injured if you faint.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.

Before having surgery (including cataract eye surgery), tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.

Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially dizziness.

This medication is not recommended for use in women or children.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: drugs for male erectile problems (e.g., sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil), other alpha-blocker drugs (e.g., doxazosin, prazosin), high blood pressure drugs, "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove tamsulosin from your body (such as cimetidine, azole antifungals including ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics including erythromycin, rifamycins including rifabutin, St. John's wort).

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep (e.g., sedatives), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine or tricyclics such as amitriptyline), tranquilizers.

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents should call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents should call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe headache, dizziness, fainting.

Do not share this medication with others.

Keep all medical appointments. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., prostate exams, prostate-specific antigen or PSA) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

See also How to Use section.

If you miss a dose, take 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 up.

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

Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Information last revised July 2009 Copyright(c) 2009 First DataBank, Inc.