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What is the most important information I should know about
tamsulosin?
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Tamsulosin 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. You may feel dizzy when getting up
from a sitting or lying position. Avoid standing up too quickly to keep
from falling. Drinking alcohol can make dizziness worse. |
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Avoid the use of alcohol, which may increase dizziness caused
by tamsulosin. |
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Before taking tamsulosin, tell your doctor if you are
allergic to sulfa drugs. You may also be allergic to tamsulosin. |
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If you will be having cataract surgery, tell the surgeon that
you are taking tamsulosin. |
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Stop using tamsulosin and call your doctor at once if you
have severe light-headness or fainting, or if you have an erection of
your penis that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours. |
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Tamsulosin is in a group of drugs called alpha-adrenergic (ad-re-NER-jik)
blockers. Tamsulosin relaxes your veins and arteries so that blood can
more easily pass through them. It also relaxes the muscles in the
prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. |
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Tamsulosin is used to improve urination in men with benign
prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). |
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Tamsulosin may also be used for purposes other than those
listed in this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
tamsulosin?
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Before taking tamsulosin, tell your doctor if you are
allergic to sulfa drugs. You may also be allergic to tamsulosin. |
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If you will be having cataract surgery, tell the surgeon
that you are taking tamsulosin. |
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Although tamsulosin should not be used by women, this drug
is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected
to be harmful to an unborn baby. |
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How should I take tamsulosin?
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Take tamsulosin exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for
you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not take
tamsulosin for longer than your doctor has prescribed. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
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Swallow the tamsulosin capsule whole. Do not crush, chew, or
open the capsule. |
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Tamsulosin is usually taken once a day, approximately 30
minutes after a meal. Try to take this medication at the same time each
day. |
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If tamsulosin makes you dizzy, taking it after your evening
meal may be helpful. |
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To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your
doctor will need to check you on a regular basis. It is important that
you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor. |
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Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture
and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is
almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the
medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra
medicine to make up the missed dose. |
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If you miss your doses for several days in a row, contact
your doctor before restarting the medication. You may need a lower dose. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used
too much of this medicine. |
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Symptoms of a tamsulosin overdose may include severe
light-headedness or fainting; a fast pulse; or cold, clammy skin. |
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What should I avoid while taking tamsulosin?
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Tamsulosin 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. |
|
• |
You may feel dizzy when getting up from a sitting or lying
position. Avoid standing up too quickly to keep from falling. |
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• |
Avoid the use of alcohol, which may increase dizziness
caused by tamsulosin. |
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What are the possible side effects of tamsulosin?
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Stop using tamsulosin and get emergency medical help if you
have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
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Stop using tamsulosin and call your doctor at once if you
have any of these serious side effects: |
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penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer; |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue using tamsulosin and talk with your doctor if you have any of
these side effects: |
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mild dizziness or drowsiness; |
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sleep problems (insomnia); |
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abnormal ejaculation, decreased sex drive; or |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur.
Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect tamsulosin?
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Before taking tamsulosin, tell your doctor if you use any of
the following medicines: |
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cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); or |
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If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to
take tamsulosin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests
during treatment. |
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There may be other drugs not listed that can affect
tamsulosin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and
over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals,
herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about tamsulosin
written for
health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach
of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information
provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and
complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information
contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been
compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United
States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the
United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or
recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational
resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring
for their patients and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a
supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge
and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a
given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate
that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for
any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any
aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum
provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all
possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions,
allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the
drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.02. Revision
date: 1/ 30/ 06. |
