Urimax 0.4: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects

What is Urimax 0.4 used for?

Urimax 0.4 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to relieve urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate.

• Easing urine flow problems caused by an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), such as a weak flow, getting up at night to pass urine and passing urine often

How does Urimax 0.4 work?

Tamsulosin relaxes the muscle in the prostate and at the outlet of the bladder. This opens the urine tube a little, so urine can pass more easily. It does not make the prostate smaller.

What happens in your body after you take it

1. You swallow the capsule

   The slow-release capsule is swallowed whole with water. It is not crushed, chewed or opened.

2. It releases slowly and is absorbed

   The medicine is released gradually in the gut and absorbed into the blood, so one dose a day can keep working.

3. It travels in the blood

   Tamsulosin is carried in the blood to the prostate and the bladder outlet, and also to blood vessels.

4. It blocks alpha-1 receptors

   It blocks alpha-1 receptors on the muscle of the prostate and bladder outlet, which stops the muscle from tightening.

5. Urine flows more easily

   With the muscle relaxed, the urine tube is wider and passing urine is easier. The liver breaks the medicine down and it leaves the body, so it must be taken daily to keep the effect.

How to take Urimax 0.4

Take Urimax 0.4 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides how long you need it.

• It is usually taken once a day at about the same time each day, after a meal.
• Swallow the capsule whole with water. Do not crush, chew or open it.
• If you miss a dose and remember the same day, take it. If you only remember the next day, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses together.
• Do not stop or change it without asking your doctor, because symptoms may return.
• Your doctor will review from time to time whether it is still helping.

Side effects of Urimax 0.4

Most men take tamsulosin without serious problems. Some side effects are common and mild, but a few need urgent medical help.

Uncommon or mild

• Dizziness, especially on standing up
• Sweating
• Less semen than usual, or none (harmless but may bother some men)
• Runny or blocked nose, headache, tiredness or back pain

Who should be careful

Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Urimax 0.4, or need extra care while taking it.

• Planned cataract or glaucoma surgery: tell the eye surgeon you take or have taken it, because it can cause a problem called floppy iris syndrome
• Low blood pressure on standing, or fainting, including while passing urine
• Severe liver or kidney problems
• Serious allergy to sulfa medicines: ask your doctor
• Prostate cancer can cause similar symptoms, so a doctor may check for it
• Be careful when driving or using machines until you know how it affects you
• It is for men with prostate symptoms and is not usually given to people under 18

Medicines and things that interact with Urimax 0.4

Urimax 0.4 can lower blood pressure, and some medicines change its level. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.

• Other alpha blockers such as doxazosin, alfuzosin, prazosin and terazosin: should not be combined
• Other blood pressure medicines and nitrates: blood pressure may fall too far
• Erectile dysfunction medicines such as sildenafil and tadalafil: blood pressure may fall too far
• Ketoconazole, erythromycin and clarithromycin: may raise tamsulosin levels
• Paroxetine and cimetidine: may raise tamsulosin levels
• Diclofenac: the NHS advises against taking it with tamsulosin
• Alcohol: can add to dizziness

If someone takes too much

Storage

Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.

Regulatory status in India

Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient tamsulosin is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Urimax 0.4 contains tamsulosin only.

Other brands with the same medicine

Tamsulosin 0.4 mg capsules and tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some tamsulosin products also contain other medicines, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor.

Other strengths and forms

Tamsulosin is sold in slow-release capsules and tablets, and in combination with other medicines such as finasteride or dutasteride by some brands. The contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.

Common questions