From the Guidelines
Flomax, also known by its generic name tamsulosin, is a medication that can be used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate in men, with a standard dose of 0.4 mg taken once daily, and it is ranked 5th in effectiveness according to the pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis in the 2021 study 1.
Key Points to Consider
- The medication works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate, and it has been shown to improve symptoms like difficulty starting urination, weak stream, and the need to urinate frequently or urgently.
- Common side effects include dizziness, headache, abnormal ejaculation, and postural hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing up), and it's essential to take the first dose at bedtime to minimize the risk of dizziness and fainting.
- Patients should avoid driving or operating machinery until they know how the medication affects them, and Flomax should not be stopped suddenly without consulting a healthcare provider.
- The 2003 study 1 also supports the use of alpha-blocker therapy, including tamsulosin, for the treatment of LUTS secondary to BPH, with a recommended dose of up to 0.8 mg daily.
Important Considerations
- The choice of medication should be based on the individual patient's needs and medical history, and patients with hypertension may require separate management of their hypertension.
- The medication does not reduce the size of the prostate or prevent the need for surgery in the future, but it can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
- According to the 2021 study 1, tamsulosin has an absolute effect of -2.13, and a ranking of 5.03, indicating its effectiveness in improving IPSS scores.
From the FDA Drug Label
1 INDICATIONS & USAGE Tamsulosin Hydrochloride Capsules is an alpha 1 adrenoceptor antagonist indicated for treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (1)
Tamsulosin Hydrochloride Capsules are not indicated for the treatment of hypertension (1)
The primary use of Flomax, also known as Tamsulosin Hydrochloride Capsules, is for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
- It is not indicated for the treatment of hypertension. 2
From the Research
Overview of Flomax
- Flomax, also known as tamsulosin, is a medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms 3.
- It is a selective alpha blocker that works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate 3.
Efficacy and Safety
- Studies have shown that tamsulosin is effective in improving BPH symptoms, with significant improvements in maximum urine flow and total Boyarsky symptom score 4.
- Long-term treatment with tamsulosin has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated, with minimal side effects and no significant changes in blood pressure or pulse rate 4, 5.
- Combination therapy with tamsulosin and other medications, such as dutasteride, has been shown to be effective in improving BPH symptoms and reducing the risk of acute urinary retention and surgery 6.
Comparison with Other Treatments
- A retrospective comparative study found that combination therapy with tamsulosin and a complementary and alternative medicine (including vitamins, herbal products, and amino acid L-Glutamine) was more effective in improving storage LUTS symptoms compared to tamsulosin alone 7.
- Tamsulosin has been shown to be effective in achieving symptom relief, with a consistent positive response in 80.7% of patients completing 6 years of treatment 5.
Treatment Outcomes
- Treatment with tamsulosin has been shown to improve quality of life (QoL) international prostate symptom (IPSS) score, as well as overactive bladder (OAB)-v8 score 7.
- Long-term treatment with tamsulosin has been shown to reduce the incidence of treatment-related adverse events, with only 5% of patients discontinuing treatment due to drug-related side effects 4.