Tamsulosin is used in the treatment of difficult urination, a common symptom of enlarged prostate. Tamsulosin, and other medications in the class called alpha blockers, work by relaxing bladder neck muscles and muscle fibers in the prostate itself and make it easier to urinate. More specifically, tamsulosin is an α1a-selective alpha blocker used in the symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Tamsulosin is primarily used for benign prostatic hyperplasia, but can also assist the passage of kidney stones by the same mechanism of smooth muscle relaxation via alpha antagonism.[5][6] Tamsulosin is also used as adjunct treatment of acute urinary retention. Multiple studies have shown patients will void more successfully after catheter removal if they are taking tamsulosin vs. placebo. Patients taking tamsulosin are also less likely to need re-catheterization.
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