Dear Dr. Roach: I have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and I am taking tamsulosin daily. It works and helps with my daily urination. How long should I continue to take it? Are there any related side effects? Or should I consider an eventual prostatectomy? Thank you.

— A.

Dear A.: Tamsulosin is an effective treatment for most men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate. (BPH signifies noncancerous growth of the prostate gland.) It works by relaxing special muscle fibers in the prostate ("smooth muscle"), which allows the urethra — the tube that carries urine from the bladder outside of the body, going straight through the prostate — to drain the bladder faster and with less pressure.

The most common side effect of tamsulosin and similar medicines (called "alpha blockers") is lighthea

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