flomax

eyesore · #1 02-27-2021, 12:21 PM

For all us older guys... [I'm 67]. been taking Flomax for a year now because I have trouble peeing and wake up three times a night to pee.Anybody else take this crap ? Cause it does nothing for me! Thanks.

rokdog49 · #2 02-27-2021, 12:29 PM

No, but waking up three times a night to pee might be signaling a prostate issue.
Have you seen your primary care guy about this yet?

blue · #3 02-27-2021, 12:39 PM

I don't have a "problem" but I used to get up around 3a.m. Sometimes twice a night.

I refer to it as "not a problem" because I never did anything in terms of "hydration hygiene" to control it. If I'm of a mind to, I'll drink 10 ounces of water right before bed with my nighty-nighty time vitamins. Never did the old "nothing to drink after 7 or 8 p.m".

But, I heard a number of podcasts featuring a guy named James Nestor. He wrote a book called Breath, and is a big advocate of mouth breathing being one of the banes of existence.

I don't know if that's true, but since I've been putting a postage stamp sized piece of Nexcare Gentle Paper Tape over my lips, I don't get up any more...

You don't seal your mouth shut (Wife was disappointed when she found out

) Just that little piece right in the center of your lips. I can still yawn. You are basically training your mouth and jaw to stay shut. You aren't "enforcing" it.

Sleep improved and I don't get up. My Wife was so impressed she, and my Daughter both do it now.

Heroditus · #4 02-27-2021, 02:12 PM

I take Flomax also. Been on either it or terrazozin for years. I’m 66. Couldn’t survive without it. With it I’m up maybe once a night and sometimes not at all depending on how much I have to drink in the evening. If it isn’t working for you, it would be worth checking things out to see what is at the root of your problem. Prostrate problems are best resolved earlier than trying to deal with them too late.

alnico5 · #5 02-27-2021, 03:00 PM

I seem to be awake around 3AM most days. I have been taking Flomax (tamsulosin generic actually) for about 4 months. It has made some difference. It is an alpha blocker, a class of drugs also used for blood pressure. When I am out running and stop, I get a drop in blood pressure and have come close to passing out a few times, but that side effect seems to be going away.

I got a prostate exam and PSA level before starting it.

It also can have some sexual side effects.

Bob Womack · #6 02-27-2021, 03:02 PM

About 50% of men over the age of 50 and 90% of men over the age of 80 contract BPH, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, overgrowth of the prostate that pushes up on the bladder causing urine retention and urethra restriction. There are two decent treatments: surgery to reduce the prostate and a particular medicine. There is one mediocre treatment: Flomax. The surgery reduces the size of the prostate, allows the urethra to expand, and reduces the impingement of the prostate into the bladder. The downsides can be loss of continence and erectile disfunction. The mediocre medicine is Flomax, which is a soft muscle relaxer that allows the bladder to relax.

The least invasive treatment is daily, small-dose, 5mg Cialis (Tadalafil). The problem? Virtually NO insurance programs will cover it, even though, and probably specifically because, such a large percentage of the male population suffer from it.

Bob

eyesore · #7 02-27-2021, 03:46 PM

yes I have been diagnosed with BPH. I had a prostate examlast summer [no cancer], and a bladder exam[catheter] [ouch] , He had to put me out cause I wa so nervous.

David M123 · #8 02-27-2021, 04:30 PM

I was given a dose of Flomax as treatment for a kidney stone.

It all but killed me.

Instead of dilating the urethra as intended, it dilated every tube in my body, resulting in a catastrophic loss of blood pressure. Within half an hour of being discharged from the hospital, I was in an ambulance, with the EMT's not sure I was going to make it.

The ER doctor called it a "classic vaso-vagal collapse".

JimC1702 · #9 02-27-2021, 04:53 PM

I have BPH and take Jalyn which is a combination of Flomax and Avodart. My PSA went from over 5, which alarmed my urologist, to under 1. The Avodart shrinks the prostate.

guitargabor · #10 02-27-2021, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

About 50% of men over the age of 50 and 90% of men over the age of 80 contract BPH, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, overgrowth of the prostate that pushes up on the bladder causing urine retention and urethra restriction. There are two decent treatments: surgery to reduce the prostate and a particular medicine. There is one mediocre treatment: Flomax. The surgery reduces the size of the prostate, allows the urethra to expand, and reduces the impingement of the prostate into the bladder. The downsides can be loss of continence and erectile disfunction. The mediocre medicine is Flomax, which is a soft muscle relaxer that allows the bladder to relax.

The least invasive treatment is daily, small-dose, 5mg Cialis (Tadalafil). The problem? Virtually NO insurance programs will cover it, even though, and probably specifically because, such a large percentage of the male population suffer from it.

Bob

Cialis is mainly an ED med with a very similar action on BPH like Flomax.both are smooth muscle relaxants of the bladder neck. Unlikely of benefit to those who failed flomax.

The risk of incontinence after surgery is minimal in experienced surgeons hands.It's one of the most common procedures performed on us retired guys and I've had it with excellent results.(and performed thousands....)

There are alternate meds and different types of less invasive procedures now....

Just go to the Mayo clinic site on BPH,Prostate enlargement ,urinary symptoms etc-their stuff is accurate

Don't rely on any websites selling wonder treatments or anything that's not fDA approved.

guitargabor · #11 02-27-2021, 11:32 PM

Finally a subject matter on AGF where I can call myself a bona fide expert!

buddyhu · #12 02-28-2021, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitargabor

Cialis is mainly an ED med with a very similar action on BPH like Flomax.both are smooth muscle relaxants of the bladder neck. Unlikely of benefit to those who failed flomax.

The risk of incontinence after surgery is minimal in experienced surgeons hands.It's one of the most common procedures performed on us retired guys and I've had it with excellent results.(and performed thousands....)

There are alternate meds and different types of less invasive procedures now....

Just go to the Mayo clinic site on BPH,Prostate enlargement ,urinary symptoms etc-their stuff is accurate

Don't rely on any websites selling wonder treatments or anything that's not fDA approved.

This has been my approach to most things...until recently, and specifically related to BPH.

I started on tamsulosin about a year ago; got some benefit, but had some mild side effects. I was not impressed, but I have continued taking it.

My wife has had osteoarthritis for several years, and a medication she started taking in October really exacerbated the discomfort. She was talking with her sister one day, and sister said she had gotten relief from back pain using CBD. My wife ordered some, started taking it, and got meaningful relief from her pain. AND, started sleeping much better. I have been a light sleeper since my mid-30’s; my wife suggested trying the CBD. I reluctantly agreed to give it a try.

I have been very skeptical about CBD because it is not FDA approved, is not regulated, and has been touted by many as a “wonder drug”. I also have no interest in getting foggy or spacey or high (while that feels pleasant in a certain way, having clarity of mind is much more valuable to me).

Lo and behold, after a few nights taking CBD, I am sleeping through the night and feel well rested AND mentally clear and sharp. BPH symptoms are noticeably reduced. And low grade pain problems and recently developing plantar faciitis have eased or disappeared.

I continue to be concerned about the possibility that the CBD we are taking has contaminants or adulterants. But the benefits that we have experienced are rather compelling, and are surprising to me.

YMMV. And i am not intending to endorse CBD. Just sharing my experience.

Methos1979 · #13 02-28-2021, 06:32 AM

Yep, 59 year old here with 'mild' BPH. I've been on Flowmax (Tamsulosin) for several months. It helps. It's not a wonder drug that suddenly turns your stream flow into the firehose-like of that 20-something in the stall next to you but it definitely has helped me.

If Flowmax is not working there are other drugs in the same class that you can try before resorting to surgery or other invasive measures. My urologist did put me on Cialis for a while but I didn't work as well as the Flowmax so I went back on that. It's an inexpensive medicine under my home-delivery plan.

Two things that also help a lot for me is losing weight and staying active. If I find myself sitting a lot (or even laying down for sleep) my stream is reduced. But if I'm up and walking around a lot then the stream is increased. I really need to lose about 50 lbs. I'm quite sure that would also help.

Getting old is not for the meek!

Methos1979 · #14 02-28-2021, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddyhu

This has been my approach to most things...until recently, and specifically related to BPH.

I started on tamsulosin about a year ago; got some benefit, but had some mild side effects. I was not impressed, but I have continued taking it.

My wife has had osteoarthritis for several years, and a medication she started taking in October really exacerbated the discomfort. She was talking with her sister one day, and sister said she had gotten relief from back pain using CBD. My wife ordered some, started taking it, and got meaningful relief from her pain. AND, started sleeping much better. I have been a light sleeper since my mid-30’s; my wife suggested trying the CBD. I reluctantly agreed to give it a try.

I have been very skeptical about CBD because it is not FDA approved, is not regulated, and has been touted by many as a “wonder drug”. I also have no interest in getting foggy or spacey or high (while that feels pleasant in a certain way, having clarity of mind is much more valuable to me).

Lo and behold, after a few nights taking CBD, I am sleeping through the night and feel well rested AND mentally clear and sharp. BPH symptoms are noticeably reduced. And low grade pain problems and recently developing plantar faciitis have eased or disappeared.

I continue to be concerned about the possibility that the CBD we are taking has contaminants or adulterants. But the benefits that we have experienced are rather compelling, and are surprising to me.

YMMV. And i am not intending to endorse CBD. Just sharing my experience.

Thanks for this. I'm just like you, I've been avoiding CBD as it's an uncontrolled/FDA approved additive and wondered if it was long the lines of those copper magnetic bracelets! But these are two reasons that I might give it a try.

eyesore · #15 02-28-2021, 08:34 AM

I guess everyone responses differently. This Flomax does nothing as far as I'm concerned. the CBD seems unpredictable ;plus I get drug tested and I know it WILL show up! My urologist tried to talk me itno Uroflow surgery , I just had 3 minor surgeries and had a catheter from hemmroid surgery ; so I'm in no hurry to get "put under "again anytime soon.