Large kidney stones improve with tamsulosin

kidney stones treatment with tamsulosinIn an attempt to uncover better treatment for kidney stones, researchers conducted clinical trials of a kidney stone medication called tamsulosin.

What they found was on small kidney stones tamsulosin had minimal effect, putting its results on par with the placebo. But tamsulosin was effective at breaking down larger kidney stones making them easier to pass.

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“The news on small kidney stones isn’t positive, but tamsulosin appears to offer benefit to those unlucky people whose kidney stones are really big,” said lead study author, Jeremy Furyk.

Over the course of 28 days, the passage of small kidney stones was effective in 87 percent of patients given tamsulosin and 81.9 percent of those on a placebo. But when kidney stones were between five to 10 millimeters, successful passage while on tamsulosin was 83.3 percent compared to the 61 percent who took a placebo.

Researchers believe that tamsulosin may be an effective form of a treatment among those with larger kidney stones.

The findings were published in Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Sources:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-07/acoe-bub072115.php

Author Bio

Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.

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