Hi all,
Was just trawling the ether for information on drugs used to treat BPH, in particular Finasteride and how long it takes to have most effect, when I came across a very informative site where some guys had posted a comment/question.
One of them said he took 400mg Ibuprofen at bedtime and found it allowed him to sleep right through the night without the usual need to visit the bathroom. Could it really be that simple?
I haven't had time to research this anymore at the moment and was wondering if anyone here has any knowledge/experience of this being effective.
Here is a link to the informative page, I hope it is allowed.
http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/your-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-medication-when-to-consider-a-change
Your comments would be appreciated as I might give it a go if it doesn't conflict with Tamsulosin and Finasteride which I am currently taking.
A lot of Guys on BPH NG's and Forums take Ibuprofen at night as one of its side effects is urine retention others take an antihistimine.You can Google the effect of each on urine retention.
Certainly Ibuprofen does not conflict with Tamsulosin or Finasteride but I am somewhat surprised that you still need to get up in the night. It sounds a silly question perhaps but do you drink too much in the early evening?
Years ago I used to get up 10 times a night! I had it checked with internal and all that and was diagnosed with "over-active bladder" which was dealt with with a 3 week course of a drug whose name I cannot now recall. Life changer!
Now - some 30 years on - I have BPH and take the two drugs and Ibuprofen for foot pain. I "never" have to get up in the night although I sometimes wake a bit early if I have had a glass of wine the previous evening.
I also take ibuprofen 400mg at night for back pain. I still have to get up at least once during the night, however. I'm on alfusozin and finasteride for my BPH. My GP's only concern is the effect of ibuprofen on my stomach, so I only take it when the back is in a bad mood, it has no effect on my need to pee. Not much light shed there I'm afraid! My only concern with finasteride is a very noticeable increase in my body fatsince commencing the drug a year ago, but this isn't related to the ibuprofen thing.
With finasteride I started to grow breasts. My wife was threatening to buy me a training bra:-)
More or less went back to normal after stopping it. Avodart can evidently have the same effect.
Like you I have to be wary of ibuprofen but when really needing it for a short time I have managed by also taking a PPI.
Hi Simon,
I drink nothing after 5PM and the number of times I have to get up in the night varies from, if I am very fortunate once, to four times. I have found eating certain things during my evening meal (at any time between 5PM and 7PM) in my experience, affects what sort of a night I have. For example, and this has happened on more than one occassion, if I eat a Banana with custard I have to get up 3-4 times. I can only put this down to the moisture content of the Banana and the liquid contained in the custard.
I didn't think I was alone in having to get up in the night even though I am taking Tamsulosin and Finasteride, certainly not from what I have read of others experiences.
Perhaps the Ibuprofen you take for your foot pain does indeed negate the need for nocturnal trips to the bathroom, which is what I was trying to ascertain.
I guess I am the lucky one! Retrogade ejaculation though ...
There's always a fly in the ointment!
Have you measured your daily input and output.? To keep from getting dehydrated you must be drinking a lot during the day.
I must start keeping an evening banana diary. I eat them perhaps three days a week in the evening and morning or afternoon on other days.
Tamsulosin gives an increase in urinary flow rate but will not reduce your night time needs.
Hi Stephen
I can't take Ibuprofen as I am on daily 75mg of aspirin,I only take paracetamol for a headache or toothache not to ease nightime urges. I was on tamsulosin and finistiride for 18 months prior to my TURP operation in Nov 2014. I stop taking them after the operation. Major issue is RE due to those 2 pills which had a 1 in 10 side effect of RE according to the information on the leflets but I believe as many of our colleagues have stated on this site that the risk is far greater. Also other issue is erectyl disfunction due to the pills and the TURP operation. Hope you have better luck with the pills.Regards Peter
Aspirin thins your bolod but ibuprofen doesn't so I don't see why you cannot take both.
Indeed - I don't think that I have heard of anyone on these that does not get Retrograde Ejaculation!
One thing for me at least is that I find Tamsulosin does have a slightly Viagric effect and that while at one time I used to "suffer" from Retarded Orgasm I how find that I now take far less time!
Certainly have no real erection problems ...
Hi Derek
That was the advise given to me by my GP when I was first prescribed 2 75mg Aspirins per day 10 years ago after a TIA (temporary stroke).And the Urologist prescribed paracetamol 500mg after the TURP operation and not Ibuprofen for pain repief. Regards Peter
I have always been told not to exceed 75mg of Aspirin for blood thinning purposes.
Hi Derek
After the TIA 10 years ago and after many tests echocardiogram,CT scan and MRI scan my consultant prescribed 2 * 75mg dispersable aspirins per day and 1 *40mg Simvastatin per day. The dosage for aspirin was reduced by the Urologist after the TURP operation in Nov 2014, as I must have bled a lot during and after the operation and I was with a catheter for 1 month before urine cleared af any blood coloration. Regards Peter
When I had laser surgery in 2013 I was taking Warfarin and the surgeon said that I need not stop taking it although I did stop for a couple of days before and after.
Yep same here I was told to stop taking the aspirins 1 week before the TURP operation and a few days after and was then reduced from 2 down to 1 aspirin a day. Peter
Hi Stephen54687. I have discovered that ibuprofen helps tremendously with my overactive bladder at night. I discovered it by accident. I take 600 mgs, but I am going to try a lesser dose. I have a $60.00 a month perscription that is supposed to help with OAB, but I still get up 5 or 6 times a night when taking it. I only get up 1 to 2 times per night with ibuprofen. I discussed this with my doctor and she was stunned.
This information has been online for years on BPH Forums and News Groups. As well as ibuprofen, codeine and antihistamines have the same effect but can cause serious retention. Ibuprofen is very dangerous to take long term as it causes stomach and cardiac problems.
Melatonin or a strong cherry juice is a safer option but it did not work for me.
I have to concur with you, I have found exactly the same.....!
I started taking 600mg because of RA pain in my finger and found this wonderful benefit. I used to get up 3-5 times a night too...But like you I now want to reduce the level. Long may it continue... cheers