Tamsulosin is an α1a-selective alpha blocker used in the symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Tamsulosin was developed by Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (technically a misnomer), benign enlargement of the prostate (BEP), and adenofibromyomatous hyperplasia, refers to the increase in size of the prostate in middle-aged and elderly men.

Tamsulosin is primarily used for benign prostatic hyperplasia, but is sometimes used for the passage of kidney stones by the same mechanism of smooth muscle relaxation via alpha antagonism.

Tamsulosin has also affected the sexual function in men. Tamsulosin can cause males to experience retrograde ejaculation. In males, retrograde ejaculation occurs when the fluid to be ejaculated, which would normally exit the body via the urethra, is redirected to the urinary bladder. Normally, the sphincter of the bladder contracts and the ejaculate goes to the urethra, the area of least pressure. In retrograde ejaculation, this sphincter does not function properly

Formal Chemical Name (IUPAC)

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamsulosin