tamsulosin
Get your tamsulosin treatment* online in a few simple steps, without having to see your doctor. Our virtual care service connects you to highly trained clinicians who can assess your health needs and safely prescribe your treatment.
Tamsulosin key facts

Report suspected side effects or adverse reactions to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) using the Yellow Card Reporting system that covers medicines, vaccines, e-cigarettes and medical device incidents.
Learn more about reporting side effects in the UKThe FDA's medical product safety reporting program for health professionals, patients and consumers.
Learn more about reporting side effects in the USOther known brand names
Flomax, Contiflo XL
About tamsulosin
Tamsulosin belongs to a class of drugs known as alpha-1 blockers. It is used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate, in men. It is sometimes used to treat kidney stones and prostatitis.
Alpha blockers such as tamsulosin reduce your blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, allowing blood to pass through more easily. Tamsulosin also helps to reduce symptoms of an enlarged prostate by relaxing muscle around the prostate and bladder allowing you to pee more easily.
Tamsulosin may also be combined with solifenacin or dutasteride to treat bladder problems and an enlarged prostate. It is available with a prescription or you can buy it over the counter from a pharmacy under the brand name Flomax Relief.
NowPatient offers tamsulosin as a treatment for urinary retention only, following an online consultation with a prescribing clinician.
Key facts of tamsulosin
- For the treatment of urinary retention
- It can be dangerous if you take tamsulosin with certain medications. If you’re not sure if it is safe, discuss this with the prescribing clinician
- You may feel dizzy or lightheaded when you first take tamsulosin. Sit or lie down if this happens, until your feel better
- You should stop drinking alcohol when you first start taking tamsulosin, until you see how it affects you
Who is tamsulosin suitable for?
Tamsulosin is suitable for most adults aged 18 and over.
Who is tamsulosin not suitable for?
Tamsulosin may not be suitable for some people. To make sure it’s safe for you, speak to the prescribing clinician before taking tamsulosin if you:
- Have ever had an allergic reaction to tamsulosin hydrochloride, sulfa medications or any other similar medicines, such as alfuzosin, prazosin, doxazosin, or terazosin
- Have orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure that makes you feel light-headed when you stand up)
- Have severe kidney or liver problems
- Have cataracts or glaucoma and are having eye surgery
- Have micturition syncope (faint while peeing or immediately afterwards)
How and where to get tamsulosin?
You can buy tamsulosin safely and securely from NowPatient. You can start a consultation today for free and if you qualify for treatment, you only pay for the cost of the medication. Delivery is made to your home or office from our registered pharmacy.
Our service is certified, safe and effective, and we only ever treat conditions. If you book a consultation with a prescribing clinician for the treatment of urinary retention, you can discuss if tamsulosin is a suitable treatment option for you.
At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is suitable for you. If it is, the clinician will issue you with a prescription which can then be ordered, paid for and delivered directly to your chosen address by NowPatient.
Dosage and strength for tamsulosin for urinary retention
Tamsulosin is available in capsule form when used for urinary retention, it is available as 400 mcg capsules. The typical dose of tamsulosin for an enlarged prostate or kidney stones is 400 mcgs, once daily.
Information about how to take tamsulosin for urinary retention
Take tamsulosin capsules at the same time each day with a full glass of water, either standing or sitting. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not chew, crush, or break the capsules.
Take tamsulosin in the morning with your first meal of the day. This will allow tamsulosin to work during the day when you are more likely to pee. Speak to a healthcare professional for further medical advice.
What happens if you take too much tamsulosin?
If you take more than prescribed, then it can lead to some unpleasant side effects. You should talk to your doctor or reach out to one of our prescribing clinicians, if you have taken too much tamsulosin and you experience any of the following side effects:
What are the side effects of tamsulosin?
Side effects of tamsulosin are split into common and serious.
Common side effects include:
- Abnormal ejaculation
- Decreased semen
- Dizziness, drowsiness, feeling weak
- Stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, cough
- Chest pain, back pain, headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Trouble sleeping
- Decreased sex dive
If you experience any serious side effects, you should contact NHS 111.
If you experience a serious allergic reaction with the signs shown below you should contact emergency services on 999.
- Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- You’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
- Your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
- Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- You suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- Someone faints and cannot be woken up
Information about taking tamsulosin at the same time as other medications or herbal supplements
There is not enough evidence to suggest there are any drug interactions between herbal supplements and tamsulosin. In any event, you should let your prescribing clinician know if you are taking any herbal supplements. Also, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking other prescription drugs, such as:
- Alpha-blockers such as alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin or terazosin
- Medication for erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil
- Ketoconazole
- Erythromycin or clarithromycin
- Diclofenac
- Warfarin
Can tamsulosin taken for urinary retention be taken long-term?
How long you take tamsulosin will depend on why you are taking it. You can take tamsulosin long-term for an enlarged prostate if it is helping your symptoms. Your doctor will check it’s still working every few months. If you are taking it for kidney stones, you may be told to stop taking it if it is not working or your kidney stones have gone.
Speak to your doctor if you have side effects and want to stop taking tamsulosin. Stopping treatment suddenly may make your symptoms come back.
Is there a herbal tamsulosin?
No. Herbal tamsulosin does not exist. If you have been marketed such a formulation, it may be fake.
Can women use tamsulosin?
Tamsulosin is not normally recommended during pregnancy. If your baby is healthy, it is ok to take tamsulosin while breastfeeding. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new drug treatments.
Should I avoid any particular food or drink when taking tamsulosin?
You can eat and drink normally when taking tamsulosin.
What lifestyle changes can I make to help me with urinary retention?
You may modify your lifestyle in a number of ways. This may have a positive impact on your condition.
- Practice Kegel exercises to improve your bladder control
- Stay well hydrated to maintain a healthy urinary function
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods
- Urinate when you feel the urge to
- When urinating, wait once you have finished for a few moments, and then try again to make sure the bladder is emptied completely
Alternatives to tamsulosin
Alternatives for the treatment of urinary retention include alfuzosin, prazosin, doxazosin, or terazosin.
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
Service Guide
Everything you need to know about Getting Treated Privately with Tamsulosin
What does the Get Treated Privately service for Tamsulosin do?
The Get Treated Privately service is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a treatment plan from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments for Tamsulosin are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.
Is this a safe Tamsulosin prescribing service?
Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed and conditions treated are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr. Aseel Hamoud. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our Tamsulosin prescribing service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the Tamsulosin consultation.
What is a prescribing clinician and is it safe for me to use them on the NowPatient platform?
Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.
Is the service available worldwide?
Yes, you can get treated privately for Tamsulosin worldwide.
Do I need to pay for this service?
Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the Tamsulosin you are prescribed.
How do I book a consultation?
Once you have logged into your account, you will need to navigate to the Get Treated Privately service card which is located as a service item on the dashboard.
Using the action button on the service card, you can select one of the following – ‘Search Treatments’ or ‘Search Conditions’. From here you can search for Tamsulosin.
Depending on the search type and the product/condition that you would like to get treated, you will be taken to a consultation booking screen. Follow the simple steps to complete your booking. During the booking confirmation, you will be able to select a date and time that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language and gender of the prescribing clinician you wish to choose. You will then see a list of all available expert clinicians who are trained to assess the medication or condition chosen. Once you have confirmed your booking, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification, SMS notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before the virtual consultation is due to start.
Depending on certain medications which require our clinicians to have your up-to-date blood pressure readings, you may be required to submit a virtual blood pressure check, using your smartphone or device. We will provide you with full instructions, when this is required.
What happens during the remote video consultation?
During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to assess your condition and potential treatment options including Tamsulosin. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if Tamsulosin is a safe and suitable option for you.
If it is, the clinician will discuss the treatment option, so that you can jointly agree on the treatment plan. Once you have jointly agreed on a treatment plan, the clinician will issue a prescription for Tamsulosin which will be available in your Cart at the end of the consultation.
Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your doctor of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your doctor is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.
What happens at the end of the Tamsulosin consultation?
At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise you if any referrals were made to your doctor, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.
If a referral letter was issued to your doctor, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘Documents’ section of the dashboard.
If you were prescribed a treatment, it will now be available in your Cart.
When you go to your Cart, you will be able to select the treatment, checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.
What if the prescriber does not prescribe Tamsulosin?
We operate a safe prescribing service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing . Unfortunately, we do not operate a self select service where you can choose a medication and simply buy. If the clinician that sees you does not prescribe anything, then you will not be charged.
Will I get status updates for my Tamsulosin order?
Yes. When your Tamsulosin prescription is approved, and after you have checked out and paid for your order, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in the ‘Notification Feed’ section on the dashboard.
How will my Tamsulosin be delivered?
All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour).
For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or weight loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.
For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.
Do you ship cold-chain or temperature sensitive products?
Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.
Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.
Where do you deliver?
We currently deliver to all postcodes/zipcodes worldwide. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.
When will my order arrive?
We aim to ship all orders placed Monday – Friday before 3pm on the same day. Orders placed outside these times will be shipped the next working day. All deliveries are shipped by Royal Mail, which delivers Monday through Saturday in the UK. For deliveries outside of the UK, please check with your national postal service for accurate delivery days.
Our delivery options have the following delivery times:
- UK – Royal Mail Tracked 24 & Signed for Delivery – Next day delivery
- Europe – Royal Mail Tracked – Typical delivery of 3-5 working days
- Worldwide – Royal Mail – Typical delivery of 5-7 working days. If a tracked option is available for your country via Royal Mail, this service will be applied.
What should I do if my order has not arrived?
Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your Tamsulosin order in the ‘Notification Feed’ section of the dashboard, at any point after dispatch.
Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system. If after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.
Can you prescribe GLP-1 weight loss injections?
Yes. However, with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the license requires that there are support resources put in place as part of the plan including coaching for a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Our clinicians will discuss this with you, if you are prescribed this type of treatment.
You can learn more on our Weight Loss Programs feature page.
What’s included with my order?
If you are ordering prescription medication, your order will contain your medication only.
If you are ordering weight loss injections, your order will contain:
- Your prescription of pre-filled weight loss injection pens
- Needles
- Sharps bin for safe disposal of needles (if ordered as part of the bundle)
Can I reorder my medication, if I have already been prescribed a course?
Yes. However, as a responsible prescribing service, we do not issue more than one monthly cycle of medication at a time.
This means that, if you would like to reorder, you will need to rebook a consultation.
This is important, because it allows our clinicians to keep track on the progress of your treatment plan and ensure that the medication remains safe and effective for you.
What is the earliest I can reorder my medication or treatment?
14 days after you have received your first monthly supply of Tamsulosin, we will send you a notification to advise you that you are eligible to reorder your medication. To ensure that we are able to safely prescribe Tamsulosin for the next supply, you will need to rebook a consultation.
This ensures that our clinician can check in on your treatment plan and ensure it is working as intended and continues to be safe, suitable and appropriate for you.
How do I reorder my Tamsulosin?
When you are eligible to reorder your next Tamsulosin prescription, we will send you a notification reminder. This notification reminder will request that you book a consultation with a NowPatient Clinician.
You should book a suitable time and date for the consultation.
At the end of the consultation, the clinician may advise you to either
- Stop the treatment
- Stay on the current dose of Tamsulosin
- Increase the dose of Tamsulosin
If our clinician deems it safe for you to continue with Tamsulosin, the prescription will be added to your cart, from where you can checkout.
Delivery will be made in line with our delivery timescales.
As a responsible prescribing service, we will always monitor your Tamsulosin treatment plan to ensure that it remains safe, effective and suitable for you.
How do I reorder weight loss medication?
Our weight loss programs are built to closely monitor treatment progress and safety. Please refer to the Weight Loss Programs Service Guide that explains how you can reorder or step edit your dose.
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