My first post gentlemen so please be patient with me. I am now 53 years and other than this prosate problem a very healthy man.
For about 17 years I was taking a generic flomax (tamsulosin) that seemed to help the urination at night, but my sex drive and my semen volume was been lacking most of the time. I'm recently divorced so back in the game and would really like to enjoy sex again. What caused me to search for alternative methods or drugs is that the generic brand of flomax I was getting wa no longer available and the pharmacies here (Canada) stted using a Sandoz brand. My symptoms worseed very quicky and I am urinating 4 times a night. My doctor agreed to get me off that and to try a generic brand of Alfuzosin, and after only 3 weeks my symptoms are even worse. Sex drive is not existent and my orgasms have no ejaculation at all. I assume retrogade is happening here.
I requested him to try me on Doxazosin as I have read good things.He did not seem to like the blood pressure effect although I do not suffer from any blood pressure problems. He feels I am not ready for The Alpha 5 reductase inhibitors and stated I really won't like their side effect.
Does anyone have any opinions of their favorite drugs and maybe had similar experiences on Flomax and Alfuzosin?
how about any natural remedies. I find saw palmetto waste of money and recently started taking Beta Sitoterol, nothing to report here.
I appreciate any help and or advice.
Kevin
Hi Kevin, and welcome back to the world of caring about your sex life! :-D
Others will advise on meds, I'm sure. I tried what you tried, drugs-wise, had same results, and since I was in my own new, post-divorce relationship, did NOT like the effects I was experiencing, which were also like yours.
I would suggest consider the surgical alternatives (Uro-lift, Holep, even green light), learn all you can. Guys here will surely offer some thoughts. For most of us, TURP is to be avoided at all costs, and liekly the first words to come out of any urologist you talk to. READ ABOUT ALTERNATIVES, PLEASE!
Meanwhile, please consider this idea: learn to self-catheterize (NOT wearing a bag!), just before retiring at night. It takes a little getting used to, but to get a full night's sleep, every night, What's it worth to you??? SpeediCath or Magic3 are the hands-down favorites on the forum.
Sorry to hear the trouble your having. I am 63 and I too have been on Tamsulisin for 4 years now and Finasteride and like you sex drive is non existent with little or no ejaculation. Mainly retrograde . You ask about herbal remedies.... My uncle swears by raw pumpkin seeds and says he has definitely seen an improvement and night time visits to the bathroom dramatically reduced. I now only have de- caff coffee and tea and take pumpkin oil capsules but it's too early to tell yet if any improvement in the condition. A recent study in China says that taking vitamin d supplements has proved successful in many cases so I take them also. Wishing you well with whatever you try!
Try Cialis - you can get a free sample I think as a trial. Canada just started making it as I believe so it's probably more affordable than in the USA.
Kevin....I’ve been following this blog for about 7 months and have heard a lot about cathing, drugs, and the various BPH procedures. All useful info. Bottom line: drugs may work for a while (for me it was about 2 years), but they can also result in damage the bladder from constantly being over extended/full . The real answer imho is surgery, specifically HoLEP. I did the research on all the procedures (except PAE….had not heard of it), and chose HoLEP. It is the best surgical procedure because; 1) less time in the hospital and a on catheter (less than 24 hours), 2) less bleeding, 3) very small chance of needing a repeat procedure, and 4) they remove prostate tissue (instead of burning it), so they can biopsy it for cancer. You do need to find an experienced doc to do this. Yes, you the have retro ejac, but sex drive returns, and unless you want to have more children, it’s not a problem. I’ve heard too many horror stories on this blog about TURP & GL. I was retaining close to 800ml, and my prostate was 85 grams, PSA 3.8. After it was 46 grams, PSA 0.2. I had my surgery in January, and now have no problems at all.
If I had it to do over, I think I’d try PAE as it is relatively non-invasive and there have been some good results reported in this blog (as well as some not so good). Also be aware that the bladder can be damaged by doing nothing. Some folks have had success with other procedures such as urolift, but just as many not.
Lastly, the experience & ability of the doc is critical, and often difficult to determine. Hospital ratings for various specialties can be found in the US News & World Report evaluations. Bios for docs may or may not be available. For example, the Mayo Clinic was rated best in the nation, and they have the education and publications of their docs listed…… very helpful. Best of luck!
I have been on a supplement regimen that is working. 1000mg L-arginine six times per day, pycnogenol 100 mg 3 times per day. Pygeum root 100 mg twice per day; 300 mg nettle root twice per day. I started this after viagra stopped working. It took six weeks on this to restore my function, but now I am fine (sexually). And no prescription!
HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) works great for BPH, no cutting, no pain, no hospital time and I think insurance covers it in Canada. Insurance won't pay in the USA for HIFU for cancer, but it might pay for BPH..... worth asking about. I know the Cleveland Clinic in Canada treats men using HIFU and there are many other places.
That is really interesting Ramblin, how did you come up with the dosage? Also I assume this is for erectile disfunction, not BPH ? I suggested Cialis for BPH though it helps for ED as well apparently.
Of the medications you mention I can only comment on Doxasomin. I was put on this as a preliminary step to self-catheterization Initially 1mg per day and I did not notice any side effects but when this was doubled after a couple of weeks the side effects were quite dramatic: My blood pressure dropped and I felt exhausted after ths slightest effort. At that time I was on BP medication-5mg Cilazopril per day-so my GP reduced this to 2.5mg and after a day or so I felt OK. After a couple of weeks the Doxasomin was increased to 4mg. I was quite apprehensive given my earlier reaction but in fact I seemed to have adjusted to the higher dose without major effects.
Unfortunately the subsequent attempt at self-cathing was disastrous. At the training session serious damage was caused to two urethal obstructions and a major infection occurred which required hospital treatment and eventually, a TURP operation which went well.
Hope this helps.
I studied some clinical studies of the supplements, and yes, this was for erectile dysfunction. I had a PAE for BPH last year, but the IR was only able to do one side and the benefits evaporated after about 9 months. The ED has been a problem for several years, well before BPH. I am now also taking alfuzosin for BPH, which helps but is not a panacea. By the way, my insurance does not cover any ED medication, and a one month supply of Cialis is about $300. The supplement regimen costs about $100 per month, and is effective, at least for me.
I am in a similar boat to you, had PAE but probably median lobe was the issue. I am taking Prazosin, I wonder if that is the same thing as alfuzosin? I get Cialis from a Canadian pharmacy, a real pharmacy with real people to talk to. Generic Tadalafil costs about $160 for 3 months. There's a new Canadian generic as well, costs more I forget how much. Never had ED the Cialis is for BPH. What dosage of alfuzosin, does it make you feel sluggish etc. ?
Mike. Can you tell us what dosage of cialis you're taking? How many times a day? Do you notice it helping your symptoms much?
Thanks for the response. Surgery and self catheterize are not my preferred options right now. Or ever I hope. LOL
I'm hoping to figure some of this out with drugs or natural for now.
Thanks Richard. I've made a list of natural supplements I am going to t and pumpkin seed oil is in there. I just need to go shopping.
Please keep me updated on your progress with the oil and what dosage you are taking. I read 160 mg 3 times a day.
I take vitamin D but not sire of the recommended dosage
5mg once a day - important not to take it too close to a meal as it will not absorb properly with fat.
When I first started taking it it helped more, that was like 3 years ago. Now I am taking Prozasin as well but I believe the Cialis is still helping. If you take it together with something like Finasteride it can counter the effects of lowering libido. I'm not sure what the long term effects are, trying to get off drugs altogether. Cialis itself did not have any side effects for me, at least that I noticed. You should talk to your physician before taking anything everyone is different.
I take Cialis quite regular. It's 20.00 a pill here so I find underground generic for like 4.00 a pill. I'm sure it is underdosed but I take 25 to 50 almost every day. My new GF sex drive is crazy and trust me I want me at my best. LOL
I meant 5 mg to 10 mg every day, once a day
Thanks Paul, I'm not ready for the surgery route just yet. Things were t not so bad until the generic Flomax (Ratio brand) was no longer available. I was hoping some real people had gone the natural route with good results. Might be a dream. I do appreciate your response. We have a crapshoot medical system here and picking your doctor is a bit difficult.
what do you mean 25 to 50 ? mg ? sounds scary, new GFs tend to make us do crazy things sometimes ;-)
5mg Canadian generic pills around $5 USD each, much safer than "underground" whatever that means.
Oh, that doesn't sound as crazy. PM me if you want a phone number of a pharmacy I use in Vancouver. Good people