Tamsulosin: study card

Tamsulosin — Alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist. Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name: Tamsulosin
Class: Alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist
Mechanism: Blocks alpha-1 adrenoceptors with selectivity for receptors in the human prostate. Relaxation of prostate and bladder-neck smooth muscle improves urine flow and BPH symptoms.
Used for: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (signs and symptoms)
Common side effects: Headache; Dizziness; Rhinitis; Abnormal ejaculation; Asthenia
Warnings: Orthostatic hypotension, syncope; Priapism; Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome
Interactions: Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole; PDE5 inhibitors: possible symptomatic hypotension; Warfarin: caution is advised because interaction studies are inconclusive

Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.

Drug class families: Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers

Read the source label ↗

Label date: 20260825 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Practice

Pronunciation

Tamsulosin: tam-SOO-loe-sin

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Other drugs in the same class

Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers: Carvedilol, Doxazosin, Terazosin, Labetalol

Body system

Genitourinary · 11 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Doxazosin

Same class family: Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers

Mechanism: Selectively blocks postjunctional alpha-1 receptors, lowering urethral resistance and systemic vascular resistance.

On both cards: Common side effects — Dizziness · Warnings — Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome

Only on the Doxazosin card: Used for — Benign prostatic hyperplasia (signs/symptoms); Hypertension · Common side effects — Fatigue; Malaise; Hypotension · Warnings — Postural hypotension / syncope; Screen for prostate cancer · Interactions — Strong CYP3A inhibitors; PDE-5 inhibitors

Carvedilol

Same class family: Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers

Mechanism: Racemic mixture: nonselective beta-blockade from the S(-) enantiomer and alpha-1 blockade from both enantiomers; no intrinsic sympathomimetic activity.

On both cards: Common side effects — Dizziness

Only on the Carvedilol card: Used for — Mild-to-severe chronic heart failure of ischemic or cardiomyopathic origin, usually with other heart-failure medicines; Reduction of cardiovascular mortality in clinically stable survivors of acute myocardial infarction with LVEF at or below 40%; Essential hypertension · Common side effects — Fatigue; Hypotension; Bradycardia; Hyperglycemia · Warnings — Do not abruptly discontinue; Bronchial asthma / bronchospastic conditions; May mask hypoglycemia · Interactions — CYP2D6 inhibitors, rifampin; Digoxin, cyclosporine; Clonidine, reserpine, MAO inhibitors

Terazosin

Same class family: Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers

Mechanism: Alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist; relaxes smooth muscle, easing the dynamic component of BPH outlet obstruction.

On both cards: Common side effects — Asthenia

Only on the Terazosin card: Used for — Signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia in adult men; Hypertension in adults · Common side effects — Postural hypotension; Dizziness / vertigo; Somnolence; Nasal congestion · Warnings — Syncope and first-dose effect; Orthostatic hypotension · Interactions — Verapamil

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.