Overview
Tamsulosin hydrochloride belongs to a class of medications that are prescribed for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement.
It is an alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist. Tamsulosin hydrochloride acts by blocking the receptors present in the smooth muscle of the prostate and urethra. Blocking these receptors helps improve urine flow by relaxing the smooth muscles of the urethra and prostate. Tamsulosin Hydrochloride is thus prescribed in cases such as benign prostate enlargement to relax the prostate's smooth muscles and control the urine flow. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tamsulosin hydrochloride on June 14, 2010.
Uses of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride:
Tamsulosin hydrochloride is a group of drugs that acts on the receptors of the smooth muscles. In cases of prostate enlargement, it maintains the urine flow by binding with receptors of the smooth muscles of the prostate; by the receptor binding process, the smooth muscles relax, and the urine flow is controlled. Tamsulosin hydrochloride does shrink the size of the prostate but acts by relaxing the smooth muscles of the prostate in individuals suffering from benign prostate enlargement. Tamsulosin hydrochloride should always be prescribed with food and not on an empty stomach to improve the drug's efficacy. It is also advisable to take this drug at the same time of the day daily to maintain the urine flow in individuals suffering from prostate enlargement.
Dosage and Administration:
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0.4 mg orally daily is the recommended dose. In patients who do not respond well within 2-4 weeks, the dose can be increased to 0.8 mg orally daily.
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It is recommended to take the drug thirty minutes to one hour after a meal every day.
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For patients suffering from renal impairment, dose modification is not indicated. Still, enough dose modification data is unavailable for patients suffering from end-stage renal impairment or hepatic diseases.
Dosage Forms and Strengths:
The 0.4 mg capsule is the available form for the drug Tamsulosin HCL.
Contraindications:
It is contraindicated in patients having the following conditions:
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Allergy: Allergy to the drug Tamsulosin HCL as allergic patients may show symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions like angioedema (swelling affecting the tissue below the mucous membrane), anaphylaxis (acute allergic reaction), or exfoliative skin diseases(severe inflammation affecting the entire skin surface).
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Low Blood Pressure: Hypotensive patients (low blood pressure) should not be prescribed this drug. It may lead to severe drowsiness and dizziness in these individuals.
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Cataracts or Glaucoma (Increased Optical or Eye Pressure): Studies suggest that Tamsulosin HCL can cause electrolyte imbalance and small pupil syndrome during eye surgery in these patients. Hence, the doctor should be informed about these medical conditions.
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Alcohol Intake: it is strictly contraindicated in individuals taking Tamsulosin HCL as it can worsen drowsiness and dizziness symptoms.
Warnings and Precautions:
1. Heart Failure: Tamsulosin hydrochloride has been documented to worsen the symptoms of heart failure. Following are a few of the features of heart failure that should be noted in these patients:
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Shortness of breath during exercising or while doing any other physical activity, shortness of breath can also be present at rest in individuals suffering from heart failure.
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Fatigue and weakness are commonly noted, and the individual gets tired while performing basic day-to-day activities.
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Swellings in the legs, ankles, and feet are an important indicator of heart failure due to electrolyte imbalance in these individuals.
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Irregular heartbeat.
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Persistent cough and wheezing with whitish or pinkish-tinged mucus are also commonly noted in these individuals.
2. Hypersensitivity: Clinical trials have reported a few cases of urticaria (extensively itchy rashes caused due to an allergic reaction), facial edema (swelling of the face), and exfoliative skin disease associated with individuals taking Tamsulosin HCL for the management of benign prostate enlargement. The medication should be immediately discontinued in individuals with severe hypersensitivity symptoms, and emergency management protocols should be followed. Alternative drugs should be prescribed when an allergic reaction to Tamsulosin HCL gets established to protect the individual from the life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions associated with Tamsulosin HCL.
Drug Interactions:
Drugs like Paroxetine and Sildenafil can interact with Tamsulosin HCL and lead to worsening side effects, including low blood pressure. In such cases, signs and symptoms of low blood pressure should be carefully noted, like dizziness, drowsiness, and lightheadedness. Individuals depicting these symptoms should be properly taken care of to prevent symptom worsening and coma.
Adverse Reactions Associated With Tamsulosin HCL:
Adverse reactions include unexpected or dangerous reactions associated with a particular drug. Following are a few commonly associated adverse reactions with Tamsulosin HCL:
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Respiratory Tract Infection: Upper respiratory tract infection, like coughing and wheezing, is a commonly noted adverse reaction associated with Tamsulosin HCL.
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Peripheral Edema: Swelling noted in the legs, particularly associated with water retention, is a commonly associated adverse reaction with Tamsulosin HCL.
Individuals affected by these adverse reactions are advised to discontinue the medication and take alternative medicines for benign prostate enlargement treatment as suggested by their physician.
For Patients:
What Is Benign Prostate Enlargement?
Benign prostate enlargement refers to non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate tissue. The other medical term for this disorder is benign prostate hyperplasia. It is a commonly noted disorder in older men. The most common symptom in patients suffering from this disorder is urinary discomfort. Few patients also suffer from urinary bladder, urinary tract, or kidney disorders. The symptoms are initially noted to be less severe but tend to worsen with time.
Following are a few common signs and symptoms of benign prostate enlargement:
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Frequent urination.
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Urgent urination.
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Increased urine frequency at night.
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Difficulty or pain during the start of urination.
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Urination ends with dribbling.
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Difficulty in completely emptying the bladder.
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Urinary tract infection.
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In rare cases, blood in urine can also be noted.
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Improper bladder emptying may lead to kidney or bladder stones.
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Prostate inflammation is also noted in a few patients.
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Urinary tract infection may lead to the narrowing of the urethra.
The severity of symptoms in the case of benign prostate enlargement is independent of the size of the prostate. In some cases, larger prostate enlargement portrays less severe symptoms than smaller prostate enlargement.
Management of benign prostate enlargement includes a pharmacological approach (through medicines), and in cases that do not improve through medications, surgery is advised.
What Is Tamsulosin HCL?
Tamsulosin HCL is a group of drugs that acts on the receptors of the smooth muscles. It is an alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist. In cases of prostate enlargement, it maintains the urine flow by binding with receptors of the smooth muscles of the prostate. The receptor binding process relaxes the smooth muscles and controls the urine flow. Tamsulosin HCL does shrink the size of the prostate but acts by relaxing the smooth muscles of the prostate in individuals suffering from benign prostate enlargement. Tamsulosin HCL should always be prescribed with food and not on an empty stomach to improve the drug's efficacy. It is also advisable to take this drug at the same time of the day daily to maintain the urine flow in individuals suffering from prostate enlargement.
What Is the Most Significant Information That Should Be Known About Tamsulosin Hydrochloride?
The drug should be judiciously prescribed.
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As prescribed in older individuals, it can lead to lightheadedness and dizziness. These symptoms may cause difficulty in carrying out daily activities, and in severe cases, the patients may also undergo syncope. Sudden fainting has been reported. Once the drug gets prescribed, the patient should be made aware of the side effects, and the family members should be asked to take care of the patient.
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In severe conditions, it can even worsen heart failure symptoms. So, individuals who are under Tamsulosin HCL should check the signs and symptoms of the side effects associated with the drug, and they should immediately report any abnormal features to their consulting doctor.
How Is Tamsulosin HCL Taken?
Tamsulosin Hydrochloride is manufactured in the form of capsules. Dosages of 0.4 mg capsules are available in the market. Physicians advise a single dose of Tamsulosin HCL daily, after the meal, preferably breakfast. The doctor's advice is to take the drug Tamsulosin Hydrochloride at the same time daily. It is always advised that the patient should carefully read the doctor's prescription before taking the medication, and in case of any confusion, they should immediately consult the doctor.
Missed Dose:
In case the individual forgets to take the prescribed dose of the tablet, or in any case, the amount is missed, then the tablet should be taken as soon as they remember, or if it is time for the second dose, then the individual can skip the first dose and immediately take the second prescribed dose.
Overdose:
In case of overdose, the individual may have symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or pain in the stomach. If this happens, the patient should be immediately taken to the hospital, and a thorough checkup should be done. In severe toxicity, gastric lavage is given, and the patient is kept under medical supervision.
How Long Can a Patient Be On Tamsulosin Hydrochloride for Benign Prostate Enlargement Treatment?
The role of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride is to maintain the urine flow by binding with receptors of the smooth muscles of the prostate; by the receptor binding process, the smooth muscles get relaxed, and the urine flow is controlled. Individuals who respond well to the medication and the urine flow gets controlled without any side effects or adverse reactions; then, in such individuals, the medication can be continued for a long span. Even if the symptoms improve, the patient should visit the doctor regularly to check the drug's effectiveness.
Even after taking Tamsulosin Hydrochloride regularly, the urinary flow is not maintained. In situations like these, other drugs or combination therapy with other medications and surgical approaches are prescribed for controlling the symptoms.
What Must be Informed to the Doctor Before Starting the Treatment With Tamsulosin HCL?
Whenever an individual visits a doctor for the management of benign prostate enlargement, the following pieces of information should be given to the doctor:
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Family History: The patient should inform the doctor if any family members, like their parents, are suffering from diabetes mellitus (increased blood glucose levels), hypertension (increased blood pressure), hypotension, or renal and hepatic disorder. They should also disclose if their siblings or other family member has any history of underlying medical conditions. This information helps the doctors know the disorder's hereditary pattern and the common signs and symptoms that run in the individual's family. Family history of the disorder guides the doctor in planning a better management and treatment protocol.
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Personal History: Personal history includes altered symptoms that an individual faces, like excessive weight gain or weight loss, drowsiness, lethargy, swollen legs, increased heart rate, increased thirst, increased urge to eat food, and increased or reduced urination.
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Other Systemic Disorders: The patient should always inform the doctors if they are suffering from other underlying diseases like kidney disorders or liver dysfunction. Doctors prescribe medications keeping in consideration the other underlying systemic conditions.
For Doctors:
Pharmacology:
Tamsulosin HCL is an alpha adrenoreceptor blocker. It acts on alpha-1A and alpha-1D subtypes in the prostate and other submaxillary tissues. Tamsulosin HCL binds with receptors in prostate glands, resulting in considerable maintenance of the urinary output. Due to these specific antagonist actions of Tamsulosin HCL, side effects like orthostatic hypotension get prevented.
Mechanism of Action:
The alpha-1A subtype of the receptor is most commonly present in the prostate gland, accounting for around seventy percent of all alpha receptors. As these adrenoreceptors get blocked, the smooth muscles of the prostate are relaxed, and the urinary output gets maintained.
By blocking the alpha-1D subtypes of the receptors, the detrusor muscle relaxes, preventing urine storage difficulties.
Absorption:
Oral Tamsulosin HCL gets ninety percent absorption in patients fast. Maximum plasma concentration is around 3.1 to 5.3 ng/mL for a 0.4 mg oral dose. When taken with food, the bioavailability of the drug increases by 30 percent.
Protein Binding:
Tamsulosin HCL is 94 % to 99 % protein bound, mostly with alpha-1-acid glycoprotein.
Route of Elimination:
The drug elimination takes place 76 % in urine and 21 % in feces after 168 hours. Only 8.7 % of drugs remain unmetabolized.
Lists of Drug Interaction:
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Amprenavir.
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Boceprevir.
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Ceritinib.
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Delavirdine.
