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Alpha-Blocker (4/5): Tamsulosin

• Alpha-blocker (1/6): General pharmacology
• Alpha-blocker (2/6): Terazosin
• Alpha-blocker (3/6): Doxazosin
• Alpha-blocker (4/6): Tamsulosin
• Alpha-blocker (5/6): Alfuzosin
• Alpha-blocker (6/6): Silodosin

Review Literatur: (Chapple, 2004).

General Pharmacology of Tamsulosin

Please see section general pharmacology of alpha-blocker.

Mechanism of Action of Tamsulosin

Tamsulosin is a selective alpha_1A-blocker with a long elimination half-life.

Indications for Tamsulosin

• Treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia

Pharmacokinetics of Tamsulosin

• Elimination half-life 12 h
• The OCAS-preparation (Oral Controlled Absorption System) allows a single daily dosing.

Tamsulosin: Mechanism of Action

Postsynaptic alpha_1A-blockade leads to:

• Smooth muscle relaxation of the prostate, bladder neck and the urethra. Alpha-blocker improve the dynamic component of subvesical obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

General Side Effects of Alpha-Blocker

• Hypotension, orthostatic syncope, reflex tachycardia
• Stuffy nose
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Dizziness, weakness
• Tamsulosin is a selective alpha_1A-blocker with a favorable cardiovascular side effect rate

Contraindications of Tamsulosin

Urological Contraindications:

Conservative treatment of BPH is not indicated, if surgical treatment is imperative: chronic urinary retention with renal failure, recurrent hematuria due to prostatic enlargement, recurrent infections and bladder stones.

Cardiac Contraindications:

Hypotension, mechanical heart failure (valvular, pulmonary embolism, pericarditis), congestive heart failure.

Other contraindications:

Tamsulosin should be paused perioperatively for cataract surgery to prevent an intraoperative floppy iris syndrome.

Dosage of Tamsulosin

0.4 mg 1–0–0

References

Chapple 2004 CHAPPLE, C. R.:

Pharmacological therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptoms: an overview for the practising clinician.
In: BJU Int
94 (2004), Nr. 5, S. 738–44

  Deutsche Version: Tamsulosin