CHAMGAP
VERIFIEDPassed the Codex final verification and publication gate. Evidence-verification cutoff: 2026-07-24. AI was used for research and drafting; the existence of all 2 cited sources was verified at the original page, followed by blind grading, adversarial audit, and build validation. Methodology v1.0.
Verdict No. 1788 · Search date 2026-07-24 · Methodology v1.0

Tamsulosin,
does it really help with Facilitation of spontaneous passage of ureteral stones 5 mm or smaller?

30-Second Summary
D
Evidence Grade D · 34 · Safety caution
Small stones often pass spontaneously, and added benefit from tamsulosin has not been shown
What the
research shows
Tamsulosin is rated D for stones 5 mm or smaller. SUSPEND randomized 1,167 participants and included 1,136 in the actual primary analysis; the primary endpoint failed (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.43). The prespecified Cochrane subgroup was also null for stones 5 mm or smaller, with RR 1.06 (0.98 to 1.15; P=.16).
What the
ads claim
Benefit in larger stones or the overall alpha-blocker literature is applied to small stones that already have a high spontaneous-passage rate.
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Useful facts when choosing a product

  • Tamsulosin is an alpha-1 blocker for benign prostatic hyperplasia and stone-expulsion use may be off label.
  • Dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, syncope, and ejaculatory dysfunction can occur.
ID

Chamgap Semantic Classification Code

Candidate index · review held

M.tamsulosin.UNK.facilitation-of-spontaneous-passage-of-ureteral-stones-5-mm-or-smaller.assess.placebo

Medicinal interventions > Tamsulosin > Unknown > Facilitation of spontaneous passage of ureteral stones 5 mm or smaller > Association or change assessment > Placebo

An automated migration candidate, not an issued permanent code; exact claim scope remains under review. This machine-generated migration candidate helps retrieval but is not a permanent assignment. The original verdict ID and URL remain authoritative.

Download semantic index (JSON) · Codebook v1

Gap Measurement · Verdict 1788 · D 34
What advertising claims
What independent, higher-quality research supports
△ GAP
01

What the research actually shows

SUSPEND randomized 1,167 participants and analyzed 1,136 after post-randomization exclusions and missing outcomes. Its primary endpoint failed, and the Cochrane estimate for stones 5 mm or smaller was also null. Verdict 796, which is C with 45 points, concerns urinary symptoms from benign prostatic hyperplasia with the same drug; that indication is entirely different and its evidence was not transferred to stones.

02

Why this is classified as D (34)

The primary endpoint failed among 1,167 randomized participants and 1,136 in the primary analysis, and the estimate for stones 5 mm or smaller was RR 1.06 (0.98 to 1.15). The upper limit leaves 15% relative benefit, so the grade is D with 34 points, not F.

Counterpoint. Larger or distal stones may warrant a different assessment, while infection, impaired kidney function, or uncontrolled pain requires prompt care.

Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — Prioritized the failed large-trial primary endpoint and null pooled estimate for stones 5 mm or smaller, while assigning D rather than F because the upper confidence limit leaves 15% relative benefit

Stored scoring profile
EndpointHHard endpoint - actual events such as death
ReplicationR2Independently replicated across trials
IndependenceI2Decisive evidence is publicly or non-profit funded
Effect sizeE0Null
PrecisionC0The confidence interval leaves room for benefit

Stored derived and displayed grades match; this is not a current recalculation or validity check (D).

Sub-claim grades by effect

This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.

Effect (sub-claim)GradeBasis
Increased passage of ureteral stones 5 mm or smallerDThe large trial and size-specific pooled estimate were null.
Shorter passage time for ureteral stones 5 mm or smallerDReliable direct benefit specific to small stones has not been established.
Reduced additional procedures for ureteral stones 5 mm or smallerDThe patient-centered primary endpoint in SUSPEND failed.

Cross-check — AI research and Codex final gate

AI was used for research and drafting. Blind grading, adversarial audit, and the methodology boundary rules were then reapplied before Codex performed the final evidence, grade, copy, and build checks. If a grade cannot be narrowed, both evidence positions and their reasons are published.
03

Evidence Table

StudyDesignSampleFundingEndpointResultWeight
Pickard R et al. 2015 SUSPENDMulticenter double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial1,167 randomized; 1,136 in the actual primary analysisPublic funding from the United Kingdom NIHR Health Technology Assessment programmeStone passage within four weeks without further interventionPrimary endpoint failed: OR 1.04 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.43).Large key trial
Campschroer T et al. 2018Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis67 randomized trials and 10,509 participants; 15 placebo-controlled trials and 5,787 participantsAuthors reported no manufacturer conflicts; academic Cochrane synthesisStone clearance and major adverse eventsNull for 5 mm or smaller, RR 1.06 (0.98 to 1.15; P=.16); positive for larger stones, RR 1.45 (1.22 to 1.72).Key size-stratified synthesis
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Receipt — 2 References

All 2 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-07-24).

Pickard R, Starr K, MacLennan G, et al. Medical expulsive therapy in adults with ureteric colic: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2015;386(9991):341-349. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60933-3.
checked
Campschroer T, Zhu X, Vernooij RWM, Lock MTW. Alpha-blockers as medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2018(4):CD008509. PMID: 29620795. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008509.pub3.
checked
Research and draft: AI used · Cross-check: blind grading and adversarial audit
Final verification and publication gate: Codex · Evidence date: 2026-07-24 · Corrections: none

Cite this verdict

Tamsulosin x passage of ureteral stones 5 mm or smaller Evidence Grade D card
[Chamgap] Tamsulosin x passage of ureteral stones 5 mm or smaller — Evidence Grade D·34. 2 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/general/tamsulosin-small-ureteral-stones-five-mm/ · CC BY 4.0

CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.

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What this document does and does not do

Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.