Flomax for Kidney Stones - Right Dosage, Side Effects and Alternatives

A kidney stone can cause a lot of discomfort and can be really excruciating. The thought of passing it naturally is scary! Most of the time small kidney stones can pass on their own whereas big kidney stones are hard to pass. In this situation, some medications can help to ease the pain and create extra room for it to pass effortlessly.

One such medicine that is gaining a lot of popularity in treating kidney stones is Flomax. Here we will talk about Flomax- how it works, its benefits, risks, and more!

What is Flomax?

Flomax is the trade name for tamsulosin. It is an alpha-blocker medicine that treats benign prostatic hyperplasia and kidney stones. Doctors prescribe this medicine when male patients face trouble while urinating. In the case of kidney stones, this medicine helps to widen the tube that connects the kidney with the ureter to pass the kidney stones easily. It is mainly prescribed to patients of more than 18 years. 

Why Flomax for kidney stones?

Kidney stones are excruciating when they pass in the ureter leaving the kidney. The process can damage the ureter and urinary tract due to excessive pressure leading to severe pain. To pass kidney stones safely, the ureter needs to be relaxed. Flomax medicine helps relax the muscles of the ureter to pass the kidney stones safely and easily. 

How does Flomax work on kidney stones?

When the kidney stones are working hard to find their way through the ureter the muscles in the procedure usually contract. In this case, it is very hard for kidney stones to pass easily through urinary tract. Flomax medicine helps relax the muscles in the ureter by improving the urinary flow, and solves the hindrance by expanding the muscles of the ureter for passing kidney stones easily through urinary tract.

What is the right dosage of Flomax?

Flomax medicine is prescribed to be taken after half an hour of a meal, usually once a day. Follow the doctor's instructions when taking the medicine.

For adults, the prescribed Flomax dosage is 0.4 mg. If the medicine does not show any results in 3-4 weeks then you should consult with the doctor for increasing the dosage or for a better way to treat kidney stones

How long does Flomax take to pass kidney stones?

Kidney stones may take a few days to several weeks to pass. It usually depends on the size of the kidney stone. Generally, small kidney stones pass quickly and easily as compared to big kidney stones. Large size kidney stone also leads to enlarged prostate. With Flomax dosage a kidney stones may pass a few days faster than without any medication.

If it’s been 4-6 weeks and the kidney stones has still not passed, then consult with the doctor for better treatment and medication to treat kidney stones

Side-effects of Flomax

Flomax can cause many side effects from mild to severe. Mild side effects can be treated in a day or two whereas for severe side effects, you should consult with the doctor.

Some of the common side effects include

• Headache
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Insomnia
• Joint pain
• Ruuny rose
• Hypertension
• Sore throat

Some of the severe side effects include

• Blurry vision
• Low blood pressure
• Fever
• Ejaculation problem
• Flomax dosage can also cause some allergic reactions in some rare cases. Consult with the doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms -
• Skin rashes
• Difficulty in breathing
• Swelling on face
• Tightness in throat

Alternatives to Flomax for kidney stones

There are many treatment options available to treat kidney stones. It depends on the size and location of the stones for choosing the treatment option.

• Thiazide Diuretics - This medicine is prescribed to increase the flow of urine and to reduce urinary calcium. It will help to reduce the recurrence chances of kidney stones in patients having high levels of calcium in the urine.
• Modifications in Diet - The doctor may suggest you increase the liquid intake in your diet. Drink at least 8-9 glasses of water throughout the day followed by juices and other detox water. The doctor may also advise reducing the consumption of sodium, and non-dairy animal protein.
• Allopurinol - It is a medicine that helps to reduce the production of uric acid. The doctor will prescribe this medicine to kidney stones patients to reduce the uric acid accumulation in the urine.
• Potassium Citrate - The doctor may suggest this medicine to prevent kidney stones from becoming large or returning. This dosage will also help in increasing the urinary tract pH and reduce the formation of uric acid stones or distal ureteral stones or uric acid crystals.
• Surgery - There are various surgery options available for treating kidney stones. Surgery options include shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. These are minimally invasive and invasive.

Conclusion

Kidney stones are a common problem affecting many individuals worldwide. Small kidney stones can pass easily whereas larger kidney stones can cause enlarged prostate, blocking the stone passage, causing excruciating pain and trouble. If required, your doctor may prescribe Flomax medicine for treating kidney stones. Generally, this medicine is safe to take. However, patients should learn about the side effects of the medicine, and discuss the history of allergic reactions, if any.