Skip to main content

Taking tamsulosin with other medicines and herbal supplements - Brand names: Contiflo XL, Faramsil MR, Flomaxtra XL, Pamsvax XL, Tabphyn MR

Cautions with other medicines

There are some medicines that affect the way tamsulosin works.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking:

  • any other alpha blockers such as doxazosin, alfuzosin, prazosin or terazosin – these may cause a decrease in your blood pressure
  • other medicines for high blood pressure – when taking tamsulosin they can lower your blood pressure too much
  • medicines for erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil
  • medicines that may decrease the removal of tamsulosin from the body – for example ketoconazole, for fungal infections, and antibiotics such as erythromycin or clarithromycin
  • medicines that may increase the removal of tamsulosin from the body – for example diclofenac or warfarin
  • other medicines that can lower your blood pressure – this includes some antidepressants, muscle relaxants like baclofen, medicines for chest pain like nitrates, and medicines for Parkinson's disease like co-careldopa or levodopa

Taking tamsulosin with painkillers

Do not take tamsulosin with diclofenac. It's OK to take paracetamol, codeine and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen while you're taking tamsulosin.

Mixing tamsulosin with herbal remedies and supplements

There's not enough information to say that complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with tamsulosin. They are not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Important: Medicine safety

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Page last reviewed: 2 February 2023
Next review due: 2 February 2026