Tamsulosin/Flomax
 

I've just been prescribed this for BPH symptoms (PSA 0.4 and DRE normal slight enlargement). Does anyone have any experiences regarding the side effects which don't sound great?:eek:
There is a minimum 2 week grounding to ensure BP is stable too....:hmm:

Second Opinion
 

Purely on the basis of a very comprehensive formal study on the values of PSA tests, for me, I would be seeking a second opinion. This study was just completed this summer. Search for it. It might save a lot of agony and complications for you.

One of the problems with a medication such as Tamsulosin is that you can find yourself on it for life.
On the basis of a PSA of 0.4 and a DRE with no Urodynamic testing it might be that the downside of the medication is biased in that direction.
Perhaps a second opinion or a Urologist consultation might be a good idea before embarking on a course of treatment which might be long term.

From experience, it seems to be tolerated very well, and, is mostly, effective.

Of course, the BP thing is extremely important if you are flying planes.

A reduction in BP, per se is probably not that important, any possible side effects (related to postural hypotension for example), is probably of more concern.

Don't know the half life of this drug, but a two week empirical trial sounds reasonable.

Winnerhofer- your medical knowledge never ceases to amaze and impress - I don't seem to have any PSA symptoms- whatever they may be and thankfully both testicles are painless so all well there thank goodness.....

Thanks for your comments - I have had symptoms for a few months which needed checking out ie poor flow, hesitation and up once or twice every night.
It does affect me most days and is frankly unpleasant . My PSA level came back low and urine testing was all clear, which I took as good news - certainly that was the impression I got from the doc. My GP is aware of the flightcrew medical implications related to flomax and was of the opinion that if I do suffer side effects, then we would have to look at other options??

It's perfectly easy to measure the size of the prostate with either an external ultrasound or a rectal one. It sounds as though a referral to a urologist might be a good idea if your GP is shooting ducks in the dark and simply prescribing Free Flow as a panacea to shrink a prostate that only a DRE has determined might be slightly enlarged. A two week trial sounds reasonable enough but why not encourage a referral now to give yourself the option of a shorter waiting time if the Tamsulosin does not work. It sounds though rather as if the symptom is being treated.

Thank you CC- sound advice.
My GP mentioned referral.
I think he was mindful of getting me some relief in the first
instance- I will be seeing him again this week and will ask
to refer me accordingly:)

Sounds like a plan and good luck with it. Urinary incontinence can be self perpetuating in that you tense up because you think you'll have a problem peeing and then you do. It has not been unknown, for those on temporary grounding, to have 2mg Diazapam prescribed 3x daily to aid relaxation or Amitriptyline at low dosage on a short term basis. This is though, most definitely a personal matter to be discussed with a medical adviser and would almost certainly have CAA consequences. That leaves hot relaxing baths while you drink beer and float plastic battleships on the water's surface which you can try to torpedo from underneath with the urinary blast as the beer on the inside and the warmth on the outside make their effects evident.
Don't let your girl friend know you're doing this. Women have strange problems with shooting in bath tubs.

With PSA score .4 and slight enlargement your doctor will no doubt wish to carry out further PSA tests. Flomax sorted me out with no side/ill effects. If your next PSA is raised then a consultation with a urologist will probably be advised.

My own prostate journey has been long but thankfully, cancer free. Biopsies will determine if required. You may need a TURPS procedure at some point in time but nothing to get excited about.

Good luck and don't worry.

In spite of the National Health protocol, for those who need a prostate biopsy, might one suggest that a move straight into a Transperineal Template Biopsy is the more thorough way forward in medical evaluation rather than a Transrectal?
The Transperineal does require a full anaesthetic, but then who wants a rectal without that anyway, and there is less possibility of a butcher's job on the prostate itself making MRI scans impossible to interpret for critical months afterwards.
Sunday braai in the sunshine calls.

It sounds as if your GP is happy this is benign enlargement. These drugs are well tolerated but if you do feel faint on getting up you simply stop.

If your GP wants a second opinion, go with it but the treatment is either these drugs or surgical prostatectomy. Nowadays urologists don't go mad with surgery but core out the middle, so younger patients will expect to come back in years to come for a re do. All surgery has a risk but it is low. retrograde ejaculation is relatively common.

At the end of the day any treatment is for the symptoms. If you do nothing you come to no harm - the prostate slowly enlarges regardless - so you must decide how much the problem effects your life.

Please don't listen to comments about cancer as pushing doctors to rule it out is far more risky.

I was having incontinance problems. I got tansulosin. No more problems and no noticeable side effects.

Thanks Radgirl- you have completely echoed my gp's thoughts
Thanks Rick - thats good to know- fingers crossed I have no issues with it
too!

been on it for 7 or 8 years now....dizzy spells now and again if I get up quickly, and occasionally the the other side effect that people are reluctant to talk about, retrograde ejaculation :eek:

It works though, I notice the difference in flow rate if I forget to take it.

Been on it for 3 days now and have noticed a difference already. Time will tell with regard to side effects.......nothing horrid as yet......

I’m on Tamsolusin too with no real side effects. Here’s a strange one though. I had pneumonia about 5 years ago and after Iwas given a nose spray (Beconase type thing to use occasionally if I get a cold). I never noticed at the time but I was gettingintermittent ‘water works symptoms – aching lower stomach, a feeling like Ineed a pee all the time – especially at night – up and down all the time. These symptoms lasted for a couple of weeks –even went to the GP and had a PSA test – negative results. Symptoms disappeared for a few months and then would come back.

These symptoms came back last autumn (2014) so I went to my GP. Cut a long story short, another PSA, ultrasound, cystoscopy and a barium Xray to rule out a bowel problem. Specialist diagnosed an enlarged prostate and put me on Tamsolusin last January. However I noticed after a couple of months that my symptoms were getting much worse and didn’t make the connection at first – I had been using the nosespray for a heavy cold for a few weeks. I Googled it and it says on the internet that decongestants can indeed cause prostate symptoms if you are borderline for a prostate problem. Stopped the nose spray 3 months ago – no morewaterworks symptoms.

This question is a year old - how has it affected you in the last 12 months?

Flomax initially can have the effect of giving you aching hamstrings, a weird one, but I definitely felt it for a few days after starting on it.

Also was the occasional dizziness when sitting up- from lying on the left side, putting feet on the floor and standing up, making the canals rotate left to right. Fixed by either sitting up slowly, or turning my head before sitting up so that the rotation was front to back.

Aircrew medical factors were never a problem with this drug. Was on it for about 3 years. Flow was improved, but capacity was low due to being squashed by the prostate.

But don't need it any more, radical prostatectomy 2 years ago.

My previous post of this morning was, of course, not only flippant but also quite correct.

Retrograde Ejaculation Guide: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options