Tamsulosin

Question 1

What is tamsulosin?

Answer 1

• It is a alpha blockers which are prescribed off-label for kidney stones
• It is an antagonist of alpha 1a and 1d receptors

Question 2

What is off-label medication?

Answer 2

• It is medication which is being used in a way which it wasn’t originally formed to treat

Question 3

What does tamsulosin do?

Answer 3

• It blocks the noradrenaline neurotransmitter and the adrenaline hormone from binding to alpha 1a and 1d receptors
• This causes the smooth muscle in the ureter to relax which makes it easier for kidney stones to pass

Question 4

How does tamsulosin help kidney stones to pass?

Answer 4

• As the smooth muscle in the ureter relaxes it allows the ureter to be wider which makes it easier for kidney stones to pass