Tamsulosin precautions

List of precautions
Sulfa Allergy Carcinoma of the prostate Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome

Sulfa Allergy
In patients with sulfa allergy, allergic reaction to Tamsulosin has been rarely reported. If a patient reports a serious or life threatening sulfa allergy, caution is warranted when administering Tamsulosin. Return to top

Carcinoma of the prostate
Carcinoma of the prostate and BPH cause many of the same symptoms. These two diseases frequently co-exist. Patients should be evaluated prior to the start of Tamsulosin capsules therapy to rule out the presence of carcinoma of the prostate. Return to top

Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome
Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) has been observed during cataract surgery in some patients treated with alpha-1 blockers, including Tamsulosin capsules. Most reports were in patients taking the alpha-1 blocker when IFIS occurred, but in some cases, the alpha-1 blocker had been stopped prior to surgery. In most of these cases, the alpha-1-blocker had been stopped recently prior to surgery (2 to 14 days), but in a few cases, IFIS was reported after the patient had been off the alpha-1 blocker for a longer period (5 weeks to 9 months). IFIS is a variant of small pupil syndrome and is characterized by the combination of a flaccid iris that billows in response to intraoperative irrigation currents, progressive intraoperative miosis despite preoperative dilation with standard mydriatic drugs and potential prolapse of the iris toward the phacoemulsification incisions. The patient's ophthalmologist should be prepared for possible modifications to their surgical technique, such as the utilization of iris hooks, iris dilator rings, or viscoelastic substances. The benefit of stopping alpha-1 blocker therapy prior to cataract surgery has not been established. Return to top