Tamsulosin is licensed as a
BPH treatment for men who have symptoms. It is licensed to help improve
enlarged prostate symptoms, but it does not help to shrink the prostate. Tamsulosin is not a cure for BPH.
Tamsulosin is part of a class of drugs known as alpha blockers. It works by blocking alpha-1 receptors in the body. This helps the muscles of the prostate and the bladder neck (where urine leaves the bladder) to relax. While tamsulosin does not help to shrink the prostate, it can help to relieve BPH symptoms caused by the
enlarged prostate.
Tamsulosin Use in Children
Tamsulosin has not been adequately studied in children and is not approved for use in children.
Off-Label Tamsulosin Uses
On occasion, a healthcare provider may recommend tamsulosin for something other than the condition discussed above. This is called an "
off-label" use. At this time, there are a few off-label tamsulosin uses, such as:
- Treatment of urinary retention (difficulty emptying the bladder) in women
- To help the passage of ureter stones (also known as bladder stones), which are kidney stones that have passed into the ureter (one of the tubes from the kidneys to the bladder).
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