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Flomax
Generic Name: Tamsulosin
Brand Name: Flomax
Indications
Flomax (tamsulosin hydrochloride) capsules are indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Dosage and Administration
Each Flomax capsule for oral administration contains tamsulosin hydrochloride 0.4 mg.
Normal Dosage:
Flomax capsules 0.4 mg once daily is recommended as the dose for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH. It should be administered approximately one-half hour following the same meal each day.
For those patients who fail to respond to the 0.4 mg dose after two to four weeks of dosing, the dose of Flomax capsules can be increased to 0.8 mg once daily. If Flomax capsules administration is discontinued or interrupted for several days at either the 0.4 mg or 0.8 mg dose, therapy should be started again with the 0.4 mg once daily dose.
Overdose: Symptoms of an overdose include weakness, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
Drug Description
Tamsulosin hydrochloride is an antagonist of alpha1A adrenoceptors in the prostate. Tamsulosin hydrochloride is (-)-(R)-5-[2-[[2-(o-Ethoxyphenoxy) ethyl]amino]propyl]-2-methoxybenzenesulfonamide, monohydrochloride. Tamsulosin hydrochloride is a white crystalline powder that melts with decomposition at approximately 230°C. It is sparingly soluble in water and methanol, slightly soluble in glacial acetic acid and ethanol, and practically insoluble in ether. The empirical formula of tamsulosin hydrochloride is C20H28N2O5S•HCl. The molecular weight of tamsulosin hydrochloride is 444.98. Its structural formula is:
Side Effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction
- a prolonged (4 hours or more) or painful erection
- severe dizziness
Precautions
- Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities.
- Flomax can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
- Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase dizziness caused by Flomax.
- Do not use Flomax if you are allergic to tamsulosin, or if you are also taking any other alpha adrenergic blockers such as alfusozin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), or Terazosin (Hytrin).
- Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have prostate cancer.
- If you will be having cataract surgery, tell the surgeon that you are taking Flomax.
- This drug belongs to the class of the FDA pregnancy category B and this means that taking this drug during pregnancy may not affect the developing foetus. You are advised to talk to your doctor about your health conditions in detail.
Drug Interactions
Before taking Flomax, tell your doctor if you use any of the following drugs:
- cimetidine (Tagamet);
- cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
- metronidazole (Flagyl, Protostat);
- warfarin (Coumadin);
- antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
- antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft);
- heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac) or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); or
- HIV /AIDS medicine such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).
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