Tamsulosin Oral Capsule: Side Effects, Uses, and More - Healthline

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about tamsulosin oral capsules.

Does tamsulosin treat kidney stones or blood pressure problems?

No, tamsulosin is only approved to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is also called enlarged prostate. It's a noncancerous condition that affects adult males.*

Tamsulosin isn't used to treat high blood pressure, as are other drugs that belong to this group of medications. There's not enough information known about the safety and effectiveness of using tamsulosin for blood pressure. But the drug can cause low blood pressure as a side effect, especially when it's first started.

Doctors may prescribe tamsulosin off-label for certain conditions, such as kidney stones. (This is when a drug is used for a purpose other than its approved uses.) A 2018 study found that tamsulosin was effective in clearing kidney and ureteral stones. But larger studies are needed to learn more about the best dosage, safety, and effectiveness of the drug for this purpose.

If you have questions about tamsulosin's uses, ask your doctor for more information.

* In this article, we use the term "male" to refer to someone's sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Is tamsulosin used in females?

Tamsulosin is only approved to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in adult males.* BPH is also called enlarged prostate.

This drug may be prescribed off-label for other uses, such as treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in females.* (This is when a drug is used for a purpose other than its approved uses.)

LUTS refers to a group of symptoms that can cause problems with your urinary tract and sexual organs. LUTS may cause symptoms such as:

  • problems emptying your bladder completely or needing to urinate more often than usual
  • trouble urinating or having pain with urination
  • pain with sex
  • decreased or absent sex drive

A 2017 review study found tamsulosin may be effective for LUTS. But more studies are needed to better understand the safety of using tamsulosin for this purpose.

If you have more questions about using tamsulosin in females, talk with your doctor.

* In this article, we use the terms "male" and "female" to refer to someone's sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

What should I know about tamsulosin's alternatives, such as alfuzosin, terazosin, doxazosin, and finasteride?

Several other treatment options are available for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which tamsulosin is used to treat. These options include alpha-blockers other than tamsulosin, such as:

Alpha-blockers work by widening blood vessels and relaxing muscles in the prostate and bladder.

These drugs have some similar uses, side effects, and interactions. But the drugs have some differences, too. For instance, they all come in different strengths and have different active ingredients. Unlike tamsulosin, some alpha-blockers also treat high blood pressure.

Finasteride, which belongs to another group of drugs called 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, is also used to treat BPH. It is available as the brand-name drugs Proscar and Propecia. Finasteride works by lowering the level of a certain hormone called dihydrotestosterone.

All of the drugs mentioned can cause some sexual side effects, such as ejaculation problems and low sex drive.

To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor. They can tell you more about the effectiveness of each in treating BPH.

Does tamsulosin cause side effects in older people or any long-term side effects?

Maybe. Some older adults may have problems with their kidneys or other serious health conditions.

In some cases, serious kidney problems can slow the removal of tamsulosin from the body. This can cause more side effects from the drug, such as dizziness and low blood pressure. Also, if other medications are needed for health conditions, the risk of side effects and drug interactions is increased.

It's unclear if tamsulosin causes long-term side effects. More studies are needed to learn about possible risks of long-term use.

Tell your doctor if you have any health conditions or are taking other drugs. Your doctor can recommend if it's safe for you to begin tamsulosin treatment. They may lower your dose of tamsulosin or recommend other options based on your health and how your body responds to tamsulosin.

How does tamsulosin work?

Tamsulosin is used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is also called enlarged prostate. It can cause problems with urination.

Tamsulosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker, which is also sometimes called an alpha-blocker. It works by blocking the effects of norepinephrine on alpha-1 receptors (attachment sites).

This helps lower blood pressure and relaxes smooth muscles in the prostate, helping to improve urine flow. This is the drug's mechanism of action.

If you have more questions about how tamsulosin works, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Can you stop taking tamsulosin? How do you safely stop using it?

Yes, you can stop taking this drug if your doctor recommends. But do not stop taking it on your own.

If you have concerns about how tamsulosin is working or its side effects, talk with your doctor. They can help you safely stop taking the drug and discuss other treatment options with you.

Keep in mind that suddenly stopping tamsulosin may worsen symptoms of your condition.

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