hi. My friend who had BPH had a low reading off testosterone and now has some patches he fits. Why are you not tested in the UK. For a lowering of testosterone? I get the usual Psa dre checks but haven't had my testosterone checked. In the U.k. Can I get a ultrasound on my prostrate by requesting one from doc. I have recently posted about the problem I am experiencing with Doxozasin and Finesteride, see my recent post. I have today stopped taking the Finesteride and will see a doctor ASAP. THANKS for any feedback.
A quick search on Google shows these tests are simple to buy and use at home. I must admit I had not previously thought about it though
Hi Alan. Yes, he had a prostate problem a few years ago and ended up with Turp. He gets his testosterone checked regularly. It was low originally. Rubs in prescription or gets patches.
Hi G, I ditched finasteride a couple of years ago and continued with Flomax but added a daily 50mg of testosterone jelly, which is on repeat prescription. I do other things but don't say too much about that because of the "snake oil" label.
However, everything works well, no ED or RE, but when I get the urge to P, I must find a loo quickly.
Finasteride killed the sex but it didn't take long for it to return - thanks to testosterone.
Hi Chris. How did you know you had a testosterone problem and did you replace Finesteride with another tablet.? I am on finesteride and Doxozasin and now am experiencing problems.
Hi G,
my testosterone result showed on my blood test with my PSA result. Whenever I go for my PSA test I always ask for a full blood test seeing as I'm being punctured.
Finasteride for me was a disaster and amongst other reasons is why I think my urologist is an A-hole.
I did not replace finasteride with another drug but I do take Lugol's Iodine daily. As I said in my previous: everything works as it should. I am fit and well and 78 years old.
I hope that helps you.
C.
Thanks Chris. I wouldn't class my doctor a urologist! They seem to dish out the Finesteride to anyone who mentions having a water problem. My Psa is okay and DRE has indicated an enlarged prostate. I am not running to the toilet all day but my stream is iffy. Today I'm stopping the Finesteride and going to see if there is an alternative due to lack of sex drive and sensitivity down below. I'm holding out on surgery as even Rezum gets mixed reviews. Cheers.
I was treated for BPH since 1990 when ultrasounds reported something?? A planned biopsy was cancelled as they discovered way back then that ultrasound didn’t detect Prostate Cancer (PCa). Later several ultrasound-guided biopsies (6 and 18 hits)failed to locate my cancer without MRI direction.
I was prescribed alpha blockers 2006 to 2015 and Duodart (testosterone manipulator similar to Finasteride) 2013 to 2014 without being advised of any disease progression or post-prostatectomy ramifications. My many PSAs never went above 3.8 and a number of DREs found no problem. I was MRI assistance diagnosed with 3+4 PCa in 2015. The gland was removed and I have since suffered rashes, fungal infections, a mistreated blockage, ongoing incontinence, kidney stones, Polymyalgia Rheumatica and testosterone deficiency that cannot be treated for fear of PCa progression to other organs or bones.
I am in Australia where apparently they generally only offer us medications or TURP for BPH and removal, radiation or chemo for PCa. I find so many other BPH options available in UK and am disgusted that these were never even mentioned here. A friend who died quickly from bowel cancer was told after diagnosis he should have had a PET scan every 2 years. He was also concerned not to have been aware of this earlier.
I think PSAs, DREs, medications and ultrasounds put us all at risk and could be avoided. MRI or PET scan will identify a problem and an ultrasound-guided biopsy of the identified area(s) and subsequent pathology will determine any treatment.
Barrie Heslop
Thanks Barry. Yer, they do a couple of tests Psa DRE say you have an enlarged prostate and send you on your way with a packet of Finesteride. I've been on these for over a year now, not good feelings see above. I'm stopping them and see what happens when I manage to see a doc. I'm sure the meds are not improving my situation and most of the hospital procedures have. Mixed outcomes. I hope to have this sorted but wouldn't count on it!
I WOULDN'T SEEK A REPLACEMENT FOR FINASTERIDE. Sorry, caps locked.
Finasteride is supposed to shrink the prostate but it didn't work for me. After just a few weeks my sex life returned and I felt much better for not taking it.
I don't know about urologists in the UK, but in the States, unless cancer is ruled out (mostly via biopsy), they are hesitant to prescribe testosterone if PSA is elevated. The general theory - and I don't know if it's been proven false - is that testosterone fuels prostate cancer.
My PSA is high and my prostate is very enlarged. I know my T levels are dropping as I continue to lose muscle mass and strength. However, getting an MD to prescribe me testosterone is unlikely, and I'm left to OTC T supplementation.
If you men get your T levels checked: (1) saliva tests are the gold standard, not serum (blood) levels; (2) if you must rely on serum levels, do it early in the morning, by 8:00 am if possible, as T levels peak upon rising; (3) if you check T levels also check estradiol and know the testosterone:estrogen ratio, and track that over time. As we age, we become estrogen dominant - this is the primary reason quality of life drops precipitously post 60.
I tried topical progesterone cream for six months to see if BPH symptoms would improve. It did nothing. My prostate grew even more during progesterone treatment.
If you have BPH and have been on Finasteride for longer than six months, expect your PSA to rise and your BPH symptoms to worsen. Finasteride will shrink the prostate by 20%+ after six months. Coming off it will cause the prostate to enlargen further and urinary tract symptoms will worsen. If you plan on staying off Finasteride - and it does have unpleasant side effects - then seriously consider a prostate reduction procedure.
Just curious......has anyone experienced retrograde ejaculation from Flomax alone (without Finasteride)?
I need Flomax to void. When I am on it, I can pee 250-600 mL. If I miss a dose, my flow is very slow, especially at night. But after years of being on Flomax, I now have RE - either that or my body no longer produces any semen whatsoever.
I need Flomax - is there an alternative that does not cause RE? Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you,
Michael
Chris,
How long were you on Finasteride? You said it didn't work for you.
Generally, reduction in prostate size occurs at around 6 months. By then PSA values will reduce around 50%.
If you're on Finasteride for less than 6 months, you may not see results, i.e., reduced LUTS.
But you are correct, Chris...... Finasteride wrecks havoc on sexual function. It causes libido to fall off a cliff; it often produces retrograde ejaculation or dries a man up; it can result in ED. And it can produce gynecomastia (man boobs) and result in serious bouts of depression (men have been reported to commit suicide while on it).
Finasteride does what it claims to do: shrink the prostate. But it comes at a high price in far too many men.
I think men, like myself, consider this drug - despite its many side effects - out of desperation to be able to urinate (without needing to self-cath) and to postpone surgery.
Hopefully, as newer prostate reduction methods gain traction (e.g., FLA, PAE, even REZUM) and men are left to better options than TURP, we can leave behind drugs with potent complications and turn to procedures that will give us quality of life and the ability to function sexually.
Far too often, we're left with the choice between sexual function and ability to urinate naturally (i.e., w/out a catheter). It would be nice to be able to have both. As for me (speaking only of myself) at 60, and having suffered loss of QoL, I'd rather pee like a 30 year old and never have sex again than have sex 3x a week and have to self-cath or undergo major surgery with potential complications (e.g., partial prostatectomy, which would open up urinary flow and remove a good portion of the prostate). I hope something like FLA or PAE will allow me both in time but I've only seen PAE studies going 2 years out and there's never been a published study on the efficacy of FLA. I believe HoLEP is great for treating BPH but results in RE in 90% or more cases. I would never consider TURP under any circumstances. I don't think there's any real risk of ED with FLA or PAE. I don't know about HoLEP. I think FLA is the best hope.
Hi Graham:
Some of us have switched to alfuzosin from Flomax. Speaking for myself, I am currently taking an alpha blocker with dutasteride (generic for Avodart). Switching from Flomax to alfuzosin, I have noticed improved sexual function that is almost as good as it was prior to taking the BPH pills. Also, I posted yesterday a citation to an article on research showing that alfuzosin is less likely than Flomax (tamsulosin) to cause floppy iris syndrome, which is an issue during cataract surgery.
You might also try low dose cialis. When I took it, while still on Flomax, I found it did help my lower urinary tract symptoms somewhat, but the side effects of heavy congestion were too much for me (heavy probably from the combination of Flomax and cialis). Anyway, I'm on alfuzosin now and liking it better than Flomax; I'm not taking low-dose cialis. If cialis and an alpha blocker are taken, the two are typically not taken together (at least 4 hours apart) otherwise blood pressure might drop too low if they are taken together (be sure to ask a pharmacist/doctor as I am not providing medical advice). Good luck.
Chris. I have hit a brick wall and I am only 62. My. Sex drive has gone all together. Feel uncomfortable all the time. I'm stopping the finesteride. Been on over a year. I'll take my chances.
Graham,
Does alfuzosin work the same way as Flomax, to relax muscles around the bladder neck to help with flow? My pupils are very small because of years on Flomax. My ophthalmologist said that's not unusual and if I ever needed cataract surgery, he'd be prepared to insert something to hold open my iris. I don't have a family history of cataracts but Flomax doesn't present insurmountable obstacles for future eye surgery as long as the surgeon knows medical history.
I'd be willing to try alfuzosin if it doesn't have the Flomax side effects of ED and retro. Have you experienced either? I never heard of alfuzosin until I read your post.
Doesn't Cialis come with risk of eye damage? I don't know if it works as well as Flomax for its intended purpose.
One day I hope to have FLA and not worry about Rx meds again. But for now, I'm looking at what combination might work the best.
Thanks,
Michael
rdemyan,
So, you're taking an alpha blocker (alfuzosin) with a 5AR-inhibitor (dutasteride), correct?
How long have you been on that regimen?
I was on Finasteride years ago and experienced bad side effects: man boobs, loss of libido, no ejaculate whatsoever. However, my prostate did not grow, my PSA went down to 1.1, and I peed pretty well and slept through the night.
As I've gotten older - and off Finasteride for 7-8 years - my prostate has more than doubled in size, my stream is much weaker and I need Flomax to pee. Seems the Flomax is wrecking havoc on sex drive but my wife and I haven't slept together in a long, long time and I wouldn't commit adultery with a gun to my head - so even though I miss intimacy, the sexual side effects of Flomax aren't devastating.
My urologist is world-renown and he refers me to the PCPT (comprehensive study, about 20 years ago) that implicated Finasteride in G7+ cancer. For that reason, he's not putting me on Finasteride given my strong family history of PCa.
I figure there's not much difference between Avodart and Proscar.
I do know other uro's who prescribe 5AR-reductase inhibitors w/ no reservations and no concerns about increasing % risk of high Gleason cancer.
Last question: did your doc order for you Cialis AND Flomax? I don't follow if he did, as I always thought a guy takes one or the other, not both.
Michael
1) Yes, I am taking both. Have been on dutasteride for about a month. I took Flomax for about three weeks and then switched to alfuzosin almost 3 weeks ago.
2) I don't know for sure, but I suspect the man boobs might be due to increasing estrogen. I've been taking increased amounts of quercetin as I read that this helps keep estrogen in check. I'll be looking for other natural supplements to take.
3) While on dutasteride and Flomax, I had zero sex drive. So the low dose cialis was supposed to help with that as well as BPH. It did both, but side effects were too much. Also, I hate taking pills, so I didn't mind stopping it.
4) Not surprised you haven't heard of alfuzosin. I had to do the research on it to get my USA uro to prescribe it. The Flomax was worsening my tinnitus. Alfuzosin might have some effect, but my tinnitus is much better. My GP here in the states has BPH. He didn't know about alfuzosin. I told him and he said he is going to switch. It seems to be more popular in Europe. I always check out what the Europeans are doing, because some of the drug companies here have a stranglehold on medications to the point where doctors aren't even familiar with alternatives.
5) Avodart prevents an additional "pathway" from causing prostate grown; whereas Proscar only stops one pathway. At least that is my understanding. Recommend you google it for more info.
I'm really glad I found alfuzosin. Sex drive is better; I'm peeing better, Post Void Residual is lower, and there seems to be less concern with alfuzosin with respect to floppy iris syndrome. I would say though that I'm just a tad bit more subject to dizziness, but I suspect I'll get used to that. Congestion seems to be a bit less on alfuzosin when compared with Flomax.
Alfuzosin does work similarly to Flomax. I strongly recommend that you google these medications to learn more.
Cheers.
I have tried both tamulosin and alfulozin. I classify them as passion killers, and have stopped both
Wow redemyan,
You gave me a lot to look into and I appreciate it.
I'm going to research further. Flomax has given me a stuffy head for years. Can't remember the last time I could breathe "freely." What a price to pay (along with the sexual side effects) to be able to pee.
The Finasteride blocks conversion of testosterone to DHT (di-hydro testosterone). DHT is the culprit in both male pattern baldness and prostate enlargement. I don't know why Finasteride would cause estrogen to increase as it does not decrease T levels (which would increase estrogen to testosterone ratio) but instead slows down the T --> DHT process.
But something is causing the gynecomastia.
I was able to ejaculate while on Flomax but now there is nothing. My wife and I have had a rough marriage and so there was never much sex, going back > 15 years. I hate to "relieve myself" but I'd do it every 30-90 days to "flush things out." I wonder if waiting three months many times was too long and that caused some of my prostatitis issues.
But I was able to produce a little semen while on Flomax. Now, there is nothing. And I wonder how I can "flush out" the prostate since there is no ejaculate.
I wish I could just get the prostate cut out. Of course, I need a pathology report saying I have cancer and my biopsy was negative and my MRIs have not shown any lesions.
Relying on drugs (which I hate too) is no way to live when the side effects are so pronounced.
I've taken quercitin in the past and will get back on it.
I've been using Serrapeptase for about 6 weeks. It's helping a little with LUTS. My knees and neck sure feel a lot better. But I'd rather have painful joints and my prostate shrink than be able to run again and deal with BPH.
Btw, have you experienced blurred vision with Cialis? Flomax has done that to me. 
Thanks again.
Michael
I took serrapeptase years ago for a short while for something that I can't even remember. I'll google it to see if it helps with LUTS. Thanks.
forgot to mention (because it's better today), but I am having more blurry vision particularly in the left eye. It has come and gone over the years (prior to the BPH pills), but now seems entrenched. I'm having my eyes checked out this Friday. So yeah, I am having more blurry vision. Also, I think one of the rare side effects of Cialis is a sudden loss of vision, but I believe I also read that the potential is higher with high-dose Cialis as opposed to low-dose Cialis.
Sex life is better on alfuzosin, but not as good as with no pills. The Avodart has a hand in it as well. On Alfuzosin, I haven't noticed significant RE, but its possible. Sometimes my urine is cloudy hours after sex, which I guess could be suspended ejaculate (I don't think it would dissolve totally in urine, but I'm not sure).
I'm not sure what your exact situation is, but if you're intending to stay on an alpha blocker, why not give alfuzosin a try. You can always switch back or maybe try Rapaflo (which I believe is another alpha blocker more prevalent in Europe than the US) or.....