Long term effects of Flomax Therapy

[Jim]

Hi Rowland, Kamloops Canada! I was put on Tasmsulosin (Flomax) and got an unpleasant allergic reaction involving severe polymyalgia rheumatica and nerve damage. My doctor refused to believe me and the Tamsulosin trial went on far too long. Have been put on prednisolone to dampen down the polymyalgia but it is not very successful. Hope everyone sees this warning!

[Bob W]

And, while I'm not any kind of medic, I wouldn't stay on the prednisolone too long either. I've had friends who were on that stuff and had many problems.

[JACK THOMPSON]

Jim wrote:

Hi Rowland, Kamloops Canada! I was put on Tasmsulosin (Flomax) and got an unpleasant allergic reaction involving severe polymyalgia rheumatica and nerve damage. My doctor refused to believe me and the Tamsulosin trial went on far too long. Have been put on prednisolone to dampen down the polymyalgia but it is not very successful. Hope everyone sees this warning!

I have experienced the same and would appreciate any further comments. How satisfied are you with your Provincial Plan

[Sally]

Kim wrote:

Has anyone had a reaction, like anxiety, depression, and explosive behavior on flomax? My husband was put on flomax and within 4 days, his personality changed. He has been on it for a month. I called the doctor and they have now taken him off of it. Has anyone else had this type of reaction?

I have only been taking Flomax on and off for about two months. My doctor prescribed it to help my kidney stones pass. Works great for that, but I have horrible cramping in every muscle in my body and I had to quit taking it. Also, I do seem to be very emotional and depressed. My strength has gone down the tubes and I have a high to low grade headache I can't get rid of. I have an increased anxiety level. I finally stopped taking it two days ago - and the symptoms persist (just like they did the first time I stopped taking it until the stones passed). It takes about four days or so for them to go away.

[Bob W]

Was on Flomax (see other posts) droppped it because of intense back pain and then tried Saw Palmetto again, but with one in the morning (320 mg) and one evening. Seemed to help, but then went for periodic blood test to find my PSA jumped a point - from 1.64 to 2.81: up 1.17. Doctor has an appointment for me with a urologist on Thursday (7/9) to see what that might mean.

[Dennis]

I'm 59 and started Flomax due to frequent night urination. Doc said take for at least 2 months to see effect. Started seeing benefits in about 3 weeks - getting up only 1x per night instead of 3 to 5, more flow, less retention. I was in Italy for much of this time, and in the countryside. Had a significant amount of nasal drainage, which I attributed to allergy and then to a cold. But maybe due to Flomax. No issues with muscle pain, strength, ejaculate / erection, so I guess I am lucky. Now back in US and have been off Flomax for a week with no return of problems. Based on comments here, I'll hope the improvement will last awhile, rather than taking risk that some of the side-effects will appear if I take continuously. I have not taken any prescription meds for more than a month or so at a time, and would like to continue that trend.

[Mary]

I have been taking Flomax for two weeks in order to help pass kidney stones. One stone has passed & I have one more to go. I have been depressed, irritable, anxious, extremely emotional & have had trouble sleeping. I have another weeks worth of this medicine to take but I'm considering stopping now because I hate how I feel. I usually walk several miles every day & have noticed no weakness & can do everything that I normally do, that is if I can get passed the depression.

[Debbie]

mike wrote:

For those having problems on Flomax, I would suggest Uroxatral 10mg. They are both alpha-blockers, but Uroxatral seems to have side effects, especially the ejaculatory problems. I would ask my physician to switch me for a month and see if there is a difference. Each person my react differently to different medications. Uroxatral is considered the alph-blocker with the least side effects.

Warning: Uroxatral can cause dizziness. My father's urologist dispensed a sample of Uroxatral without stating any known side effects. My 75 year old father fell flat on his face four hours after ingestion. He started complaining of dizziness within one hour of ingestion. Be careful as this is a common side effect even in younger men.

[Bob W]

Latest: Doctor wanted me to ease off anything that might affect prostate - sex, exercise,and no more saw palmetto for three weeks and get another blood test. Will report on that later - blood test on Monday 8/3

[Joey]

My father says he is developing painful leg cramps. Has anyone else experienced this. I was told by a pharmacist that if he drinks a glass of tonic water everyday the cramps should subside. Apparently, tonic water contains quinine. If he discontinues flomax what else can he take?...

[Frank]

A urologist gave me a free sample of Uroxatral, which so weakened me that I quit the drug immediately. My primary then gave me several weeks of Flomax to try, (a very similar drug chemically). For me, urine flow improved immediately so I decided to put up with some of the side effects: inability to fall back asleep after nighttime urination (never a problem before; I'm a heavy sleeper). But after about 10 days, I started to get the same effects: extreme weakness, especially in the legs, as described by so many here. I used to walk over 3 miles every day; now I can barely get around the house. I'm taking myself off the drug and going back to saw palmetto. Searches of the net tell me that I can pay to check on brand purity, or buy from German or French sources where saw palmetto is the preferred treatment for BPH and where the level of fatty acids is probably more strictly controlled. (Good luck to all the posters who need alternatives.)

[Bob W]

Just saying, but my urologist had no faith in saw palmetto at all and advised me to get rid of what I have because he said it could change your PSA readings. Some success may be placebo effect, which was always good enough for me.

[Frank]

Bob W: do a search of the Net on saw palmetto. Numerous referenced articles in the professional medical literature now grant that saw palmetto can be efficacious. In fact, it seems that part of what it does is the same thing that Avodart is supposed to do: prevent the alteration of testosterone into another form that causes prostate enlargement. A few years ago, a study got a lot of press because it said saw palmetto didn't pass a double-blinded test, but in fact, other studies say that it does--carefully controlled studies. (Besides which, PSA readings are notoriously non-definitive with both false positives and false negatives.)

[Bob W]

Thanks for that note; it is a confounding situation and I have read a lot of contradictory information. I know the Germans, at least, are much more involved with holistic solutions than we are and that's a way I'd rather go - as I noted, I think placebo effects are just as acceptable.

[Frank]

Question: for guys who were wiped out taking Flomax, how long did it take to regain normal strength. I took the drug for 15 days and started really feeling negative effects by the 13th. I have been off it for only 72 hours but am still weak.

[Bob W]

Just a couple of days in my case. I had heavy back pain like somebody punched me in the kidneys (previous post), but it took me about five days, I'd say to start coming around.

[Frank]

Thanks for the answer Bob W.(We both seem to have dual addresses, probably because of satellite hookups. Since we might all need a laugh, I actually once lived in Murphysboro, IL. Freaked me out when I saw the location.) Incidentally, I don't know anything about your case, but your PSA reading is not all that bad. Can anybody else answer the question? One fellow mentioned walking 4 miles a day. I walked 3 and a half until recently. Same result. Couldn't dream of it right now.

[Frank]

My primary suggested that I try Flomax again after a period of rest. After the second pill, I again experienced total muscle exhaustion. In any case, I called a Flomax number 1-800-542-6257; option 4 on their menu is intended for reporting adverse effects. (I suggest that anyone who has had the problem call the number because, by law, all incidents have to be reported to the FDA.) The pharmacist on the line was extremely courteous. Much to my surprise, I was told that in trials, 39 of 502 individuals experienced asthenia (the medical term for loss of strength. That is 7.8% although 5.5% had the same result on a placebo--always a sugar pill). This was a relief for me because, outside of this website, I had no other confirmation of the weakness problem.

[Bob W]

Follow-ups to #s 210 and 214. Back at the doctor Thursday for results of blood test. PSA back to normal 1.0. With digital exam negative, doctor thinks nothing further necessary (biopsy, etc.)except for yearly PSA. Decided to just ride things out rather than try another medicine; if things take a turn for the worse I'll look for other meds.

Frank: Thanks for your posts and right, I seem to register two locations; I'm actually near Gettysburg, PA. I imagine I should call that number you gave given my reaction.

[Frank]

Bob: absolutely, everyone who ever reacts to any prescription drug should call such numbers. Doctors, even good ones, tend to be skeptical when, say, only 1/15 patients has an adverse reaction. Statins are notorious for producing the same effect, but it took a long while before the notion got widespread attention because the percentage of patients was small.

Good news on the PSA. I'm happy for you.