Flomax (tamsulosin)

Flomax Drug Description

Flomax is a brand name for the medicine Tamsulosin. It is an oral consumption tablet that is only meant to be prescribed by a trained doctor. Hence Flomax cannot be obtained as an over the counter drug without a valid prescription. This drug is produced and marketed by several companies such as CSL, Mylan, Sandoz and Boehringer-Ingelheim. The medicine Tamsulosin was originally developed by a Japanese firm named Yamanouchi Pharmaceuticals. Apart from Flomax, there are other trade names of the medicine such as Flomaxtra and Urimax. These names vary from the manufacturing company and the country where they are marketed. So for instance, in Egypt, the medicine is marketed by Astellas Pharma with the trade name Omnic. In terms of patency agreements, the Food and Drug Administration of US has approved generic versions of the medicine since June 2010.

Conditions Treated by Flomax

Flomax is a prescription drug which is given to patients suffering from BPH which stands for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Tamsulosin or Flomax is an alpha 1A receptor antagonist. This category of drugs is used specifically in cases of BPH. Additionally Flomax may sometimes be used to get rid of kidney stones also. The mechanism of action is essentially the same in both conditions where there needs to be a relaxation of muscles by alpha antagonism.

BPH patients suffer from the need to urinate too frequently or at times there might even be incontinence. Other symptoms such as a weak urine stream, urge to urinate frequently at night also exist. Typically in BPH, there is an enlargement of the prostrate gland which puts excessive pressure on the urethra. Since the urethra is the main mode of carrying the urine form the bladder, any pressure on it affects the process of urination. Patients with BPH feel discomfort and unable to empty their bladders. Flomax works by relaxing the prostrate muscles which in turn facilitate the urethra’s functioning thus enabling the bladder to get emptied. It must noted however, that Flomax only provides symptomatic relief hence other treatments or medications might be needed in conjunction with it.

Flomax Dosage Information

a.) Typical Dosage Recommendations

Flomax is a medicine that needs to be taken orally. Usually one tablet per day is prescribed as a standard dose. Generally at the beginning patients are advised to take the medicine at bedtime, to avoid the risk of feeling too giddy. Then gradually the medicine schedule can be built at a similar time daily. There should ideally not be too much fluctuation in time for the taking the medicine everyday so that the patient can easily get used to the drug. The tablet should always be taken with some water and should never be crushed or chewed.

b.) Missing A Dose

The effectiveness of a drug is dependent on several factors, one of which is adherence to the dosage and the schedule. Missing doses therefore should be avoided by all means. Flomax in particular can often take as much as month before the patient shows any improvement. Therefore it is essential to stick to a specific drug schedule. However if by chance a dose of Flomax is missed, then it must be taken as soon as the patient remembers. But the dose must never be altered to compensate for missed doses. If too many doses are missed, then the doctor might even revise the Flomax dosage.

c.) Overdosing

Overdosing of any drug, including Flomax can lead to highly unfavorable symptoms that can even lead to medical complications. An overdose of Flomax, may be characterized by dizziness. Immediate medical help must be taken in case of a suspected overdose. Although basic first aid may be provided it is best to seek an expert advice before administering anything to the patient.

Flomax Warnings

Flomax is drug specifically meant for men only. Hence women or children must not take this medicine. Flomax is a prescription only drug; hence even if patients might suspect symptoms that can be treated by Flomax, they must first consult a specialist doctor. Moreover the medicine is known to cause some dizziness, especially at the initial stage when the patient’s body is not used to the drug. At such times, due care must be taken when performing any quick or strenuous physical movement, as it can cause fainting. Flmoax can also cause some people to feel confused or disoriented hence it is best to take the medicine at night so they it can be followed by adequate resting time. Alcohol must not be consumed by patients who are on Flomax as it increases the likelihood of side effects, particularly dizziness.

Flomax Side Effects

Patients who start taking Flomax need to be careful about the timings of dosage as well as other aspects of their lifestyle such as sleep and alcohol consumption. All these factors can affect the likelihood of side effects. There are some minor side effects that can gradually decline as the patient gets accustomed to Flomax. These are:

• Slight giddiness or sleepiness
• Changes in vision
• Pain in the head or back
• Vomiting like sensation
• Diarrhea

Apart from the above there are some serious effects of Flmoax. If any of these occur then it could be an indication of intolerance of the drug and some changes in the dosage might be needed. The side effects include the following:

• Severe fainting
• Flu like symptom such as fever, headaches, chills
• Pain in the chest
• Erectile pain
• Insomnia
• Tooth related problems

The best option for a patient is simply to keep his doctor well informed so that in case there are any side effects they can be easily managed before they worsen. Even in the symptoms are mild, it is best to seek medical advice.

Possible Drug Interactions With Flomax

Flomax is a precription only drug because it can interact with several other medicines and can cause complications. Hence the patient must inform the doctor of all other medicines he may be taking when he starts Flomax. These also include any herbal drugs that he might be taking since Flomax is known to interact with some of these as well as some multivitamin pills. In addition, it reacts adversely with:

• Antidepressant medication such as:
  • sertraline (Zoloft)
  • escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex)
  • buproprion (Wellbutirn)
  • citalopram (Celexa)
  • fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
  • milnacipran (Savella)
  • mirtazapine (Remeron)
  • venlafaxine (Effexor)
  • venlafaxine XR (Effexor XR)
  • paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat)
  • duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• antibiotic medications such as:
  • ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
  • dapsone
  • erythromycin (Ery-Tab)
  • erythromycin (Erythrocin)
  • levofloxacin (Levaquin)
  • norfloxacin (Noroxin)
  • rifampin (Rifadin)
  • rifampin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide (Rifater)
  • rifampin/isoniazid (Rifamate)
• Antimalarial drugs like:
  • (Paludrine)
  • mefloquine (Lariam)
  • Chloroquine Phosphate (Aralen, Avloclor)
  • atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)
  • quinine sulphate
  • pyrimethamine (Daraprim)
  • primaquine
• erectile dysfunction drugs:
  • sildenafil (Viagra)
  • tadalafil (Cialis)
  • vardenafil (Levitra)
• antifungal medications such as:
  • fluconazole (Diflucan)
  • itraconazole (Sporanox)
  • ketoconazole (Nizoral)

Flomax could also interact with medications given to heart patients particularly for hypertension and irregular heartbeats.

If you have any questions about buying discount Flomax online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.