What Are the Dangers of Women Taking Flomax?
Flomax, an alpha blocker used to treat urinary symptoms in men with BPH (also known as an enlarged prostate), is the name brand of the prescription drug tamsulosin. Though it has not been approved for women by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), doctors have recommended Flomax to women with increasing frequency to treat kidney stones, urinary hesitancy and other problems with the lower urinary tract. If you have any of these symptoms and have been prescribed Flomax, you may be wondering about the safety and efficacy of using this drug originally developed to treat the male prostate. The following guide may help.
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Function
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Flomax works by relaxing muscle tissue that inhibits voiding or completely emptying the bladder. This alpha blocker, developed by Yamanouchi Pharmaceuticals, is a "receptor antagonist." Men have alpha receptors in the prostate, and it has recently been discovered that women also have them in the bladder neck. Tamsulosin improves urination through urethra dilation when these muscles relax.
Prescriptions
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Doctors do have the authority to write prescriptions for non-approved or "off label" uses of Flomax. In many cases, Flomax may be prescribed when traditional treatments have been unsuccessful.
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Side Effects
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Because it has not yet received FDA approval for women, there is no published comprehensive list of side effects for females. It is generally believed that women will have side effects similar to those of men, including a sudden drop in blood pressure, which could result in fainting, runny nose and dizziness.
Tests
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According to Renal and Urology News, a November 2009 study in Italy found that voiding systems had improved for 71.4% of female test subjects with bladder outlet obstruction. Another study performed by the New England section of the American Urological Association stated that tamsulosin was well tolerated by female participants and that improvements in urinary health from the drug appeared clinically significant.
Considerations
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Until the drug receives FDA approval, it is difficult to evaluate the safety of Flomax for women. You should speak to a trusted physician regarding your concerns with the drug and consider using it only when previously approved methods have failed.
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