Objective To compare the efficacy of tamsulosin and nifedipine for the adjunctive expulsive therapy in patients with lower ureteral stones. Methods A total of 180 patients with stones (0.4-1.0 cm in diameter) located in the lower ureter (juxtavesical or intramural tract) were randomly divided into 3 groups (60 cases in each group). Group 1 served as controls; group 2 received nifedipine (10mg, 3 times daily) ; and group 3 received tamsulosin (0.4 mg, once daily). All patients were observed for 2 weeks. Results During 2 weeks, expulsion of stones was observed in 26 cases (43. 3% ) of group 1, in 44 (73. 3% ) of group 2, and 49 (81. 1% ) of group 3. The difference in expulsion rates between groups 2, 3 and group 1 was statistically significant (P 0. 05). In groups 1 , 2 and 3, renal colic recurred within 2 weeks and analgesics were used in 5 cases (8.3%), 1 (1.7% ) and 0, respectively, with significant difference between the groups (P