Tamsulosin -- does it help with constipation?

Posted by mawmaw @mawmaw, Oct 6, 2021

I have battled constipation since a child and am now 65 years old. Several times I have been prescribed Tamsulosin for kidney stones. I have noticed that it appears to relieve my constipation issues. Has anyone experienced this? I have tried to do some research but was unable to find any information.

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@mawmaw I took a look around and only found tamsulosin causing constipation. Wish I could help. Good luck. 🙂

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Constipation is not helped by a full bladder. Your taking something to decrease prostate size and increase urine flow will decrease bladder fullness! That may be what’s helping your constipation. 🙂

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Hi @mawmaw, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @mjzd @suzbyrne and other members. You will notice that we changed the title of your discussion a little to let members know a little more about the topic. Diarrhea is listed as a side effect here -- Tamsulosin: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a698012.html. I am 78 and have been taking tamsulosin for many years for an enlarged prostrate and unfortunately have a running battle with constipation. I may need to have a discussion with my doctor to see if I need to up my daily dose of tamsulosin a little. 🙂

Has it helped with the kidney stones?

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It doesn't shrink the postrate, rather it relaxes muscles to increase urine flow. Having used it for 10 yrs I suspect this process can lead to urinary and fecal incontinence or at best urgency. I don't experience constipation.

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Thank you for replies...my recent kidney stone was surgically removed...so all went well! I believe the tamsulosin has helped relieve my years of battling constipation. Perhaps the relaxing of muscles from tamsulosin is the reason. I am now very regular and mentioned to my urologist of the effects of taking med. He mentioned he was not sure if he had heard of it relieving constipation..but was willing to continue prescribing it to help alleviate constipation. I just wanted to know if anyone had any similar experience!

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Bill has had an enlarged prostate for decades (maybe it helped cause his CKD?). His problem has never been flow but how many times he goes during the day and especially at night! And now he has added starting the flow before he leaves his recliner. His doctor has him on both generic Flomax and Avodart. And his symptoms seen worse rather then better. He is also suffering from very low blood pressure readings when he gets up and does anything. This morning it was 67/36 after bathroom break. Just back from bathroom trip again and it is 83/42.

He wants something that lets him sleep during the night without constant peeing every half hour to an hour. Any ideas?

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I was just prescribed tamsulon(flomax) this past Wednesday to help pass a stone and I suffer from Chronic constipation due to my opiate replacement therapy and methadone dosage I've been gradually tapering off of the last 3 years. I have only been able to go maybe once or twice a week and nothing has helped make me regular until I was put on flomax. Idk what it is, I'm a 30 yr old female and it's not due to my prostate shrinking lol but I have been going once or twice a day now and don't have to struggle and go through that constipation pain. I wonder if it may have something to do with relaxing of the muscles but it has definitely helped me.

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