When is Flomax used?
Flomax or Generic Tamsulosin by Cipla is a prescription drug belonging to the class of alpha blockers which are known for their ability to relax certain muscles in the body. Flomax in particular is used for relaxing the muscles in the prostate, which makes it an effective treatment for relieving the symptoms of an enlarged prostate such as urination difficulties. It has to be noted that Flomax will not treat the enlarged prostate as a condition, but only relieve its symptoms. Flomax can also be used to help in the passing of kidney stones. This use is also due to its effects of relaxing certain smooth muscles.
Flomax is most commonly used in two conditions. It is by far most-commonly used by men who are suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate. This condition affects a certain percentage of men and the instances of this condition increase with advancing age. It is estimated that over 50% of men over the age of 75 are suffering from enlarged prostate. There are many symptoms of this condition, including such as difficulties urinating, incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Benign prostatic hyperplasia can also result in further developments such as urinary tract infections and obstructive uropathy. If you decide to buy Flomax and start using it for BPH, you should be aware of the fact that this medication will not cure the condition itself, but only alleviate the symptoms. It does this by relaxing the smooth muscles in the prostate, leading to the alleviation of most of the symptoms. Due to its effect as a muscle relaxer, Flomax is also effective when it is needed to pass kidney stones, as it allows a much more comfortable passage. Therefore, there are patients who order Flomax when they wish to enable a less symptomatic passage of kidney stones, most notably reducing the pain caused by it.
Discussing the use of Flomax with your physician
If you intend to buy Flomax online, you should still talk to your doctor who will provide you with a prescription recommending the best possible treatment for your condition. In order for them to be able to do this, you will need to share everything you can think of that concerns your health. First of all, you should mention any allergic reactions that you might have suffered when using Flomax, or other similar mediations such as Uroxatral, Cardura, Minipress, Rafaplo or Hytrin. In case you are suffering from prostatic cancer or if you have suffered from it in the past, your doctor needs to know about this as it might be necessary to adjust your regimen.
Using generic Flomax
Once you order Flomax and start using it for your condition, you need to take certain precautions in order to ensure a beneficial and safe treatment. The first thing you need to remember is that you have to use Flomax exactly as prescribed. This means that you need to take exactly as much of Flomax and at exactly the recommended intervals. It is quite common for your doctor to occasionally make adjustments to your regimen and if this happens, you need to act on those changes, adhering to the latest prescribed regimen. In most cases, Flomax is taken once per day and after meals. The best thing to do would be to take Flomax at the same time each day, as this ensures constant levels of the drug in the system, allowing for the best possible results.
You should also be aware that Flomax may cause certain sedation, causing side effects like dizziness and drowsiness. If this should occur to you, make sure that you are feeling alright before you participate in any potentially hazardous activities, e.g. driving. Furthermore, alcohol is known to enhance these side effects, which is why you should refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages when taking Flomax. A Flomax treatment usually involves regular checkups and you should go for these checkups whenever your doctor recommends it.
Flomax side effects
The side effects of Flomax are very rare and they are usually mild and manageable without consulting the physician. They involve: mild dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, diarrhea, nausea, blurred vision, back pain, dental problems, changes in the sex drive, sleep problems, cough, sore throat and runny nose. In case you experience side effects like a fainting feeling, chest pains, body aches, chills, fever or priapism, make sure you contact your doctor. These are serious side effects and they usually indicate that your body is not responding well to Generic Flomax.
Drugs that interact with Flomax
If you are using any other medications and you buy Flomax intending to use it, it is necessary that you talk to the pharmacist or your physician in order to make sure that Flomax will not interact with these medications. Also, if you are already taking Flomax, do not introduce any new medications before you clear it with a medical expert. The drugs that are known to interact with Flomax include, among others: cimetidine, cyclosporine, conivaptan, imatinib, isoniazid, methimazole, pioglitazone, ropinirole, ticlopidine, warfarin, certain antibiotics, some antidepressants, certain antifungal medications, medications used for malaria, ED medications, blood pressure and heart medications, heart rhythm drugs, HIV/AIDS medications, certain medications used for psychiatric disorders.
Flomax overdose
You should never take more Flomax than prescribed, but if you do this for some reason and you suspect an overdose, make sure you seek emergency medical help. Signs of a Flomax overdose include extreme dizziness and fainting.
(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)