As males age, the prostate inevitably gets larger over time. In fact, as a guy, your prostate has been growing since you were in puberty, and this growth kicks into high gear as you get older.
An enlarged prostate, medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is not prostate cancer. It is simply that the prostate, a walnut-sized gland that has a variety of responsibilities, including semen production, ejaculation, and urinary control, becomes unusually and uncomfortably large.
This is a problem because an enlarged prostate can lead to some unwanted and sometimes painful issues, including difficulty urinating, the inability to control your bladder (incontinence), decreased urine flow, and having to get up numerous times during the night to go to the bathroom.
Almost every male will experience an enlarged prostate. It’s the number one prostate issue among males, which is why medicine has developed some practical ways to treat the condition. One is with a medication called Tamsulosin, which you may be more familiar with under its original branded name, Flomax®.
Tamsulosin is the generic version of Flomax®, which means it has the same ingredients as the original drug but is now available at a fraction of the cost. It can even be purchased online for added savings and convenience.
Whether you’ve been prescribed Tamsulosin by your doctor or are getting older and, perhaps, experiencing a few warning signs of an enlarged prostate and considering going to your doctor, you should understand the medication that might be prescribed to help you.
How Does Tamsulosin Work?
Tamsulosin is what’s called an alpha blocker medication, and it is generally prescribed for men who are having difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate. You might think Tamsulosin would be prescribed to shrink an enlarged prostate, but that’s not how alpha-blockers work.
Tamsulosin reduces blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels, allowing blood to pass through them more readily. What it also does is relax the muscles around the prostate gland and bladder, which makes it easier to urinate even though the prostate remains enlarged.
Common Questions About Tamsulosin
BPH can be difficult enough for many men to talk about, let alone ask questions about how life may change when treating it. So, here are a few common questions and answers that we hope will provide you with some critical insight and maybe even ease your mind about taking tamsulosin to treat an enlarged prostate.
Are there any side effects of Tamsulosin?
It’s best to speak directly with your doctor about any potential side effects of Tamsulosin. However, they tend to be mild. Some dizziness may occur when you first begin taking it, but this usually subsides. There are generally no long-term side effects of taking Tamsulosin. It tends to work better when taken over an extended period. If you have prolonged dizziness or other side effects, ask your doctor about other medication options, such as Finasteride or Dutasteride.
What happens if I stop taking it?
Unfortunately, if you stop taking Tamsulosin, its beneficial impact will quickly disappear, and any symptoms you were experiencing before taking it will likely return. Tamsulosin will be entirely out of your system within 2 to 3 days, and you will no longer be experiencing any medicinal benefits.
Will Tamsulosin affect my sex life?
For most men, the answer is taking the medication will have little or no effect on your sex life. If, however, you are taking medications for erectile dysfunction, adding Tamsulosin may cause you to feel dizzy or light-headed. If you are taking any medicines, tell your physician before taking Tamsulosin.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Tamsulosin?
This is a tricky question to answer, as it depends on how much you intend to drink and how the medication affects you personally. The fact is alcohol can increase the blood-pressure-lowering impact of Tamsulosin, which may lead to severe dizziness or cause you to feel a little dizzy. As a rule, you should avoid alcohol entirely for the first few days you are taking the medication so you can gauge how it is impacting you on its own. Then, add a cocktail and see how you feel. If you do experience dizziness, it’s probably best to avoid alcohol altogether. It’s always wise to limit consumption when taking any blood-pressure-lowering medication.
How often do I have to take Tamsulosin?
Tamsulosin generally comes in slow-release tablets or capsules that allow the medication to enter your bloodstream gradually. So, you’ll only take one pill daily, preferably in the morning with breakfast. Easy peasy.
Are there any foods I need to avoid?
Nope. You should be able to go about your regular diet, which, hopefully, is relatively healthy. It is best to take tamsulosin with food, so go ahead and have a nice breakfast and add Tamsulosin to your routine.
Can I drive on Tamsulosin?
This depends on how the medication makes you feel. As noted earlier, one of the possible side effects of Tamsulosin is dizziness. If you experience this, operating an automobile or any other heavy machinery or tools is unsafe and unlawful. If you have any questions as to your ability to drive after taking this or any medication, do not do it. Talk with your physician about alternatives.
Can anyone take Tamsulosin?
Generally, adult males over the age of 18 can take Tamsulosin. There are a few exceptions, including anyone who is allergic to the drug, has severe kidney or liver problems, has orthostatic hypertension (a specific type of low blood pressure), and anyone who is having surgery for cataracts or glaucoma. For the most part, however, there are few restrictions on who can take this medication to help with BPH.
Conclusion
Tamsulosin has been proven to help many men having trouble urinating due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate). Of course, every individual is unique, and some medications may work better than Tamsulosin to treat BPH in some instances. If you are experiencing any signs of BPH, including problems urinating, incontinence, or having to wake up multiple times during the night to urinate, contact your physician to find a solution that works for you.
At MediSuite, we proudly provide Tamsulosin and other generic medications to treat male health problems at low prices with direct-to-your-door convenience. Whether you have a prescription from your doctor that needs to be filled or would like a telemedicine consultation with one of our doctors, we’re here to make treating BPH, erectile dysfunction, and other male health conditions a whole lot easier.
MediSuite is committed to men’s healthcare by providing doctor-prescribed medications at affordable prices delivered directly and discreetly to your door.