home > drugs a-z list > flomax (tamsulosin hydrochloride) drug center > flomax (tamsulosin hydrochloride) drug - patient avoid while taking

In this Article

• What is tamsulosin (Flomax)?
• What are the possible side effects of tamsulosin (Flomax)?
• What is the most important information I should know about tamsulosin (Flomax)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tamsulosin (Flomax)?
• How should I take tamsulosin (Flomax)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Flomax)?
• What happens if I overdose (Flomax)?
• What should I avoid while taking tamsulosin (Flomax)?
• What other drugs will affect tamsulosin (Flomax)?
• Where can I get more information?

What happens if I miss a dose (Flomax)?

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.

If you miss your doses for several days in a row, contact your doctor before restarting the medication. You may need a lower dose.

What happens if I overdose (Flomax)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include a fast heartbeat, cold or clammy skin, severe headache, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking tamsulosin (Flomax)?

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.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase dizziness caused by tamsulosin.

What other drugs will affect tamsulosin (Flomax)?

Before taking tamsulosin, tell your doctor if you use any of the following drugs:

• cimetidine (Tagamet);
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
• metronidazole (Flagyl, Protostat);
• warfarin (Coumadin);
• antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft);
• heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac) or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); or
• HIV /AIDS medicine such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with 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.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about tamsulosin.

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.

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 1996-2010 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.02. Revision date: 4/12/2009.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read,understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement,which can be accessed by clicking on this link.