(May 19, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Using tamsulosin around the same time as having cataract surgery can significantly increase the risk of  adverse events, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here is some information about tamsulosin:

•    Also known as Flomax, it is a drug used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

•    It belongs to a class of drugs known as alpha-inhibitors.

•    It helps men with BPH by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and the opening of the bladder, making urination easier.

Researchers from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto analyzed nearly 100,000 men aged 66 and older who underwent cataract surgery. They compared 280 of the 284 men who experienced an adverse event following the surgery and 1,102 men who did not.

Those who had taken tamsulosin within 14 days of surgery were more than twice as likely to have an adverse event as those who had not. There was no increased risk among men who had taken other alpha-inhibitors or tamsulosin more than 14 days before surgery.

We had a chance to speak with Dr. Chaim Bell, the principal investigator of this study, who offered some further insight.

Today's research highlights the dangers of taking tamsulosin within two weeks of having cataract surgery.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.