Medication may be prescribed by a physician to help kidney stones pass. Alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers, such as tamsulosin,[1][2] and calcium channel blockers[1] cause dilation of the urethra, which increases the chance of stones passing on their own.
If kidney stones continue to be a recurring problem for people following all of the recommended dietary guidelines, then pharmaceutical treatments may also be an option for prevention.[3] Thiazide diuretics have shown some efficacy in preventing calcium kidney stones in people with normal urine calcium levels.[4] Drugs such as allopurinol or febuxostat, which reduce uric acid levels, may be helpful for preventing uric acid kidney stones in people with high levels of uric acid in their urine. [5] Treatment with citrate (from potassium citrate), which inhibits the formation of calcium crystals,[6] has also shown some efficacy for preventing stones in randomized controlled trials.[7][8]