Flomax: Answers And Questions For Those Having Enlarged Prostate

19 Aug

Posted by admin as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

When you are suffering from an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH), you find it difficult to start the stream. Flomax is one of the common drugs used to treat this disorder.

How Does Flomax Treat BHP?

Flomax belongs to a category of drugs called alpha-blockers. Alpha-1 receptors reside in your prostate gland. Flomax works by blocking alpha-1 receptors. This relaxes the muscles of the prostate and the bladder neck to allow easy flow of urine. This helps to solve the urinary problems. However, unlike other drugs, which shrink the size of the prostate, it only relieves the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Therefore, it does not cure enlarged prostate.

How long does it take Flomax to show results?

Flomax is a 24-hour capsule with a chemical name known as TAMSULOSIN. It should work within 24 hours. The normal dosage is 0.4mg once a day. However, if you don’t experience any relief within 24 hours, try it for one month as it may take longer time to address the infection, which is responsible for the inflammation. If it doesn’t work after one month, ask your doctor to increase the dosage. Doctors sometimes increase the dosage to 0.8mg once a day.

If all these fail, then you need change to another medication.

Does Flomax cause any side effect?

Most patients can tolerate it. However, it can increase your blood pressure.

Just like any drug, you may experience side effects during the treatment with Flomax. These include abnormal ejaculation, runny or stuffy nose, blurred vision, lightheadedness, diarrhea, sleeping problem, lower sexual drive, weakness, back pain, cold, flu, increased cough, and dizziness. Adverse effects that require immediate medical attention include fainting, persistent or severe dizziness, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and a prolonged painful erection.

It is a rare case if you should encounter any allergic reaction. However, when this happens you should see your doctor immediately especially if you experience severe dizziness, rash, difficulty in breathing, itching, and swelling.

A recent study in 2005 showed that Flomax could interfere with the cataract surgery. This does not mean that you should not take Flomax but if you are planning to have an eye surgery, you have to inform your ophthalmologist that you are using this medication.

What precautions you should take before using Flomax?

Remember to consult your doctor before you start or stop using it.
It may interact with some drugs. You need to disclose all the drugs that you are taking to your doctor.
If you are taking other alpha-blockers, you should avoid using Flomax.
If you are taking azole antifungals, anticoagulants, cimetidine, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors, your doctor needs to monitor your dosage or your condition closely.
If you are suffering from high blood pressure, prostate cancer, or allergies, you should let your doctor know.