Priapism following ingestion of tamsulosin.

While priapism has been noted rarely in patients taking -adrenergic blocking agents, including doxazosin, terazosin and prazosin, to our knowledge we report the first detailed case of priapism following ingestion of tamsulosin.1, 2 CASE REPORT A 58-year-old Hispanic male presented with painful priapism 7 hours in duration. Priapism manifested 1 hour after a fourth dose of 0.4 mg. tamsulosin, which was taken because of obstructive voiding symptoms. The patient had no other history of priapism. His only other medication was hydrochlorothiazide, and priapism was not preceded by trauma or sexual activity. He denied ingestion of alcohol or cocaine. Complete blood count was normal. The priapism was successfully managed by corporeal irrigation with saline and phenylephrine. Dark blood suggestive of low flow priapism was irrigated from the corpora. Two weeks later the patient resumed tamsulosin therapy because of persistent voiding symptoms. Two hours after the first dose of 0.4 mg. tamsulosin priapism developed, which again responded to corporeal irrigation with saline and phenylephrine. The patient remained off all -blocking agents for 6 months and had no further episodes of priapism. DISCUSSION