I am 76 and have an enlarged prostrate.I visit the bathroom two or three times nightly and usually empty my bladder if I massage the scrotum area after urination.My flow is moderate and my psa reading 3.23.My GP has prescribed alpha blockersTamsulosin 400 which I have taken for just over a week.They make me dizzy at times and also had a few headaches.I am wondering whether to continue with this drug or ask my GP for the alternative prostrate reduction medication.Any advice please
Welcome Brilliad,,
sorry to read of your trouble. You'll find this forum full of guys with a wealth of experience who are willing to share their experience and expertise along with support and advice.
I was on Tamsulosin for some years on and off (montly on) and never experieced any dizzy spells or headaches.
Whilst you may think you are emptying your bladder, you may well not be. I too thought I was emptying, but several checks over the years showed increasing urine retention - from 300-600 mL to eventually 1.2L.
The problem with this high retention was that it caused a 'backwash' into the ureter (the pipe from the kidney to the bladder), which as well as reducing my kidney's effectiveness (I only have one), increased my blood pressure. The upshot was I had a catheter fitted to see if that improved these things - they did. So then they recommended, and I did, a prostate rebore (my PSA was OK too) 'cos that was the cause of the high retention. Since then I've had great flow - tho' still get up once a night. However, during the day I only need to go every 3-5 hours rather than the 1-2 hours previously.
So perhaps you need to have your doc give you an ultrasound scope of your bladder - that'll show how much retention you're having. Better, but more troublesome (read painful) is having a catheter inserted and see how much drains out even after you think you've emptied your bladder.
Hello Brilliard, There are alternative ( and cheaper ! ) meds to Tamsulosin ( Flomaxtra here in Australia ) but it is considered the most effective and, the least likely to cause low blood pressure. Your symptoms place you within the between 1 in 10 to 1 in a 100 unlucky patients who suffer side effect noticeable to the degree you are currently experiencing. Commiserations.
The Drug Literature recommends, not arising immediately upon waking. So I guess that means staging it; from prone to sitting for a minute and then slowly up. By then, you'd be properly awake and adjusted. Not desirable, but at least you're not a heap on the floor.
Don't know if its been a long enough trial yet, for your system to adjust and hopefully allow for things to improve?
It would seem only you can know whether going back to your GP this early, talking it over and potentially being put back on something less effective ( which too will have its own side effects ), is the preferable option.
My experience with it was and is chequered. In me it causes primarily, systemic body fluid retention ( oedema ), which I resent. But then when I abandon it and can hardly void, it is my Dear Friend Tamsulin !
Good luck,
Dudley
Hi, I'm on Tamsulosin 400 same as yourself if you read the leaflet it say' that one in ten people may experience dizziness ( the reason is because it lowers the blood pressure ) if this happens sit or lie down until it passes, you will get used to the medication after a few days when your body gets used the medication. after two weeks your Doctor can up the dosage to 800 if he thinks it is needed.
If you are still concerned after three or four days then talk it over with your Doctor.
I've been told that when Tamsulosin was used for BPH surgery was cut by 85%.
kind regards
Howard.
PS. I hope that helps.
And destroyed users sex lifes and affected their eyes making any subsequent cataract surgery difficult.
dudley to derek76
To pee , or not to pee : that is the question ~
derek if only people would read the information leaflet that is with the medication, It tells all about side effects and not taking certain medication if cataract surgery is involved Etc.. I think we are all grown up enough to make our own minds up what we put into our bodies, and we all know you don't get some thing in life for nothing ( every action will have a reaction ).
kind regards
Howard
The nurse at the GP practice I go to says that the drug that is most complained about to her by men is Tamsulosin.
Or to take arms against a sea of dribbles and by TURP to end them?
The question in Hamlets speech also relates to suicide that was part of the theme in another conversation.
If only doctors would.
I to be honest when I first started to to them found them to give me such a better quality of life (I could go on long a journey in the car without having to stop so often also a better stream ), it was only after a DRM by the urologist (who was very rough) that they lost effect and it was at that time the pain and symptoms got worst.
I think that most men object to the retro egagulation ( which the chances they will have with some of the surgery that is on offer and certain meds.
meds effect people in different ways so it is up to the patient to see what suits them I think.
Indeed you are right derek, our doctor can't be bothered to bring up records on the screen. ( he is too into his private work to take time with those on the NHS.
regards
Howard.
Dudley to Derek
Whether 'tis more injurious for us to suffer
The side effects of Pharmaceutical profiteering
Or to take unproven balms against a pee of troubles
And by eschewing them to die
And end the balls-ache of a thousand cocks
Dudley to Derek
Whether 'tis more injurious for us to suffer
The side effects of Pharmaceutical profiteering
Or to take unproven balms against a pee of troubles
And by eschewing them to die
And end the balls-ache of a thousand cocks 
The damage is often done before one realises.
When I was taking finasteride I started to grow breasts and stopped it. Later my GP prescribed Avodart. When I read up on it the leaflet said not to take it Finasteride had caused breast tenderness or breast growth.
Prior to my PVP travel was worked out by how many toilets I would pass on the way. After my PVP I bought a 50 hour bus ticket and travelled around New Zealand for a month.
We have a rival to the Bard or perhaps Cyril Fletcher :-)
Dudley to Derek
So many monkeys... so many typewriters !
And if you pay peanuts you get monkeys.
Do you mean plagiarists?
Dudley to Derek
Ape -arently.
In fact, and considering the sheer length of Shakespeare's complete works one would expect to find shorter writings such as these posts long before and far more often than his.