Flomax and Avodart

[CountryJoe]

Greetings brothers. A question: is it safe to take Flomax and Avodart to improve urine flow? I am tired of having to get up to pee 7 or 8 times a night.

[Tall_Allen]

If you are taking ADT, you don't need Avodart. If Flomax doesn't work (2 at night), ask your urologist to try different alpha-blockers.

[CountryJoe in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks for getting back so quickly, Allen. I am on vacation (2 years now as PSA slowly rises. Currently at 1.6). I plan to wait until it reaches 6, but want to resolver issues that rob me of sleep.

[Tall_Allen in reply to CountryJoe]

Your prostate has already shrunk then, so I fail to see what use Avodart can be.

[RyderLake2]

Hello,

I cannot speak for Avodart but I do take Flo-Max. It has not affected either my urgency, or my frequency during the day. Nor has it improved my stream. However, at night I only wake up once or twice. Occasionally I am able to pull an "all nighter"! That has a slightly different meaning for me now than when I was younger! I can't even imagine getting up seven or eight times a night. Have you thought about taking a sleeping pill? You won't be shovelling snow this winter in El Salvador. Good luck!

[CountryJoe in reply to RyderLake2]

Thanks for getting back to me RyderLake2. I take melatonin and get back to sleep very quickly, but its a terrible nuisance.

[SilverSeppi]

I don't believe you should be combining any medications like that with flomax

[Gimmishelter]

I too was getting up 5 or 6 times a night for prolonged dribbles. My urologist put me on Flomax, but it caused my blood pressure to drop to the point where I once actually blacked out. Fortunately no driving at the time. He took me off it and prescribed Betmiga which did not affect my BP. I have since had a TURP which was the best thing that happened to me, strong flow and only up once or twice a night, which is probably normal for my age (72).

[larry_dammit]

be careful with the Avadart, my urologist had me on it . The drug reduced my PSA artificially and covered my stage 4 cancer until it was to late.

[Benkaymel]

Flomax (Tamsulosin) improves the unrine flow rate (clue is in the name) but doesn't really help with frequency of toilet visits (i.e. fully voiding the bladder at each visit) - at least that was what my urologist told me and what I experienced. The frequency was addressed by RT to the prostate to shrink it away from the bladder. I still take Tamsulosin when necessary but keep an eye on my blood pressure as it does reduce with regular use.

[Condor77]

I took Flomax and the SE I experienced was that I had severe nasal congestion as well which is apparently a SE some people get. I quit using Flomax. I have stoped drinking any alcohol, caffeine or carbonated beverages and do not drink anything after 6:00 PM. Usually go to bed at 9:00. This has cut nightime urination for me to 1-2 times a night. This is a year after radiation on a 70 YO which may be in the normal range for my age.

[birdwatcher2 in reply to Condor77]

I had radiation cystitis of the bladder and gross hematuria this summer only 9 months after MRI-Linac (Meridian) where the doctor did not adhere to the protocol. I'm pissed (pun intended). Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment healed the bladder and started Flo-max but I have always had nasal congestion only at night (one nostril completely clogs, last 30-40 years 5 ENTs and 2 MRIs say nothing is wrong) and Flo max made it worse and marginally helped my enlarged prostate (symptoms) that I did not take care of before RT. Switched to Uroxatral for sustained release and antegrade ejaculation versus retrograde with Flomax and about the same sinus issues. Will probably try Flo max again when I go dry orgasms, but prefer to do Kegels as there have been clinical studies showing both can have similar outcomes. Hoping the prostate naturally shrinks from RT over the next 9 months (which would be 2 years post RT). Otherwise maybe Urolift or new approved Optilume. Less options after RT. Also stopped caffeine , alcohol 1/week (although this actually makes me go normally!). Just read sugar in the evening will make you go at night. I only get up once now, from 3-5 times this recent summer.

[Rolphs in reply to birdwatcher2]

I have never heard of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment to “heal” bladder. Did your urologist recommend it? I had both hips and prostrate radiated and was told by urologist that my bladder is damaged. I just started taking Trospium and I think it’s helping me pee 2 times a night rather than 3-4. ( I need to stop liquids after 6) I have been taking only one per day in the morning but may switch to 2 (one at night).

[birdwatcher2 in reply to Rolphs]

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment is SOC for many things. I had never heard of it either, but Urologist let me watch the cystoscopy real time showing the radiation damage that was causing the gross hematuria (blood in the urine, small amounts and a couple winger dingers full of clots one of which sent me to ER) and recommended it. I did 57 week days in a row 90 minutes a day at 45 ft. below sea level in a tank big enough for 9 people and a hospital gurney where they showed movies on two 55 inch screens and you got snacks at the break. They even had a bathroom. Most tanks are not that big and people get claustrophobic. I guess it would depend on what kind of damage you have but the goal is to accelerate the healing process of some type of wound. I met a diverse group of people, severe broken bones, breast cancer patients just out of surgery (like the day before), plastic surgery gone wrong with skin grafts not healing correctly or internal bleeding, botox that made a woman go deaf in one ear. Some people couldn't get there ears to adjust to pressure and would have to leave. Insurance covered it except for co-pay x 57. They said no one in 20 years had come that many days without missing one. I also had to take a heavy supplement regimen, mostly just more of stuff I was taking anyway. The important ones are amino acids Arginine Citrulline and Ornithine that make nitric oxide which enhances blood flow. Weightlifters use them before workouts. I have been taking them for years.

[Rolphs in reply to birdwatcher2]

I will ask about HOT treatment for the bladder and see if it is something that my urologist would recommend. It’s been 2.5 years since I’ve had radiation but it’s worth a shot. Thanks for the detailed information!

[birdwatcher2 in reply to Rolphs]

Always good to ask, the time since radiation doesn't matter because as we both know radiation can be the gift that keeps on giving in both directions forever. Well, locally forever It can do no harm but at longer intervals like mine it will slowly temporarily blind you. The good part of that is I don't need my reading glasses at the moment, but have no clear vision past 15 inches (but driving like a maniac anyway). I'm told it takes about 2 months to return to one's prior vision without fail. I feel better every day, totally forgot to take the Uroxatral last night (3rd time that's happened) to no ill effect. If I had just taken care of the BPH before RT I would be golden. Good Luck, let me know if you start, I'll give you the supplement list and dosages, they are only for the duration of treatment plus weekends. I doubt all providers have as much experience with the supplementation as Dr. King at Hyox.

[Rolphs in reply to birdwatcher2]

Good background…I will let you know if I do the HOT.

Thanks again 👍

[Aldo62]

I have been using flowmax with no issues or side effects that I am aware of.

[j-o-h-n]

REPEAT*REPEAT*REPEAT

PissJug near the bed......piss in it and lie down to re-sleep asap....(just like they do in the country, Joe).....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 12/06/2023 11:58 AM EST

[CountryJoe in reply to j-o-h-n]

Thanks John. I use that technique, but still loose sleep.

[inter100 in reply to CountryJoe]

ageukincontinence.co.uk/uri...

[j-o-h-n]

Do you have enough left.... to tie it in a knot?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 12/06/2023 12:40 PM EST

[CountryJoe in reply to j-o-h-n]

Sad to say, No. 😄

[j-o-h-n]

That makes two of us........😄

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 12/06/2023 12:50 PM EST

[cfhny in reply to j-o-h-n]

count me in!

[j-o-h-n in reply to cfhny]

#3 officially counted....Thank you.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 12/06/2023 4:09 PM EST

[birdwatcher2]

Not only are you losing sleep, you are not getting deep sleep and that can be really bad over the long term. I have sleep apnea and only recently had it diagnosed at 68 now 70. Should have got tested 30 years ago. Combine that with prostate issues and that can lead to stroke and all kinds of other things. If you just have BPH and no cancer you have a ton of options if drugs don't help after 3 months.

[fast_eddie in reply to birdwatcher2]

I use a CPAP machine for obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed three years ago. One effect I notice is I can often go the entire night without getting up to pee. I think the deeper sleep enables that. Sleep apnea is very bad for someone with atrial fibrillation. My electrophysiologist (a-fib ablation surgeon) is the one who insisted on the sleep study that got me diagnosed with sleep apnea. I had complained many times to my regular doctor about fatigue but, with me not meeting the typical profile, he never bothered to have me sleep tested. For this reason and more I was happy to get new doctor when he left for greener pastures.