Tamsulosin (Flomax)

[HiloHairy]

I've been taking tamsulosin for BPH for several years. Lately having a persistent post nasal drip I began to check and see if any of the meds I take could be causing it. When I saw this as a potential side effect of tamsulosin I went from taking two capsules a day to taking one.

The post nasal drip has gotten quite a bit better but surprisingly I'm experiencing far-less ectopics and it's approaching the maximum amount of time I ever see between A-fib events.

Googling the medication and AFib gets me diverse hits mentioning arrhythmias and afib as potential side effects. I'm now surprised that neither the cardiologist nor the electro cardiologist I see has said anything about it. They have all my medications listed on my chart.

Does anyone else here have experience with tamsulosin?

[Omniscient1]

Hi,

Yes I have been on Tamulosin for about 4-5 years?? I get stuffy nose often but nothing else. I have permanent AFIB so I can't help you with it being a stimulant for AFIB attacks. I guess though that as far as Drs are concerned it can be prescribed together.

As to whether it does any good - not sure

Gary

[HiloHairy in reply to Omniscient1]

Thanks for commenting.

How long have you had A-fib? Could it be that you wouldn't be in permanent if you weren't taking it?

[Omniscient1 in reply to HiloHairy]

Hi, I was diagnosed with AF 10 years ago and only on Tamulosin for about 5. I may have had the AF for about 18y

Gary

[RoyM]

I took Tamsulosin for about two years for the same BPH reason. I then had need for a cataract removal. During the op I suffered a Floppy Iris and before the op was completed my Iris ripped. It would appear that Tamulosin works by relaxing muscle and it is known that a ripped Iris is a recognised complication of taking Tamulosin even long after you have stopped taking the drug. Who knows what effect it could have on the heart. Cheers Roy

[Hidden in reply to RoyM]

My father in law had serious complications with his cataract surgery after being on Flomax for several years. His 10 minute laser removal ended up taking 5 hours and they had to cut and stitch the eye. The doctor said it should have been done in a hospital, rather than an outpatient surgery center. In spite of all best efforts, he lost most of his vision in that eye. His opthalmologist said that in spite of medical journal articles, speeches at conferences etc. many doctors were still prescribing Flomax, and other drugs with similar effects on the eye, without requiring an eye exam to determine if patients had cataracts. He said he now hands out a flyer to all his male patients about the potential danger of taking these drugs prior to cataract removal. He said cataracts first then BPH, unless the patients want to end up blind. It is definitely nothing to fool around with.

[IanMK]

Not Tamsulosin, but I have been on Dutasteride for BPH for over 10 years. Post nasal drip started 2 years ago, coinciding with when my HF meds were started. I’ve always assumed that it is due to the Ramipril.

[HiloHairy in reply to IanMK]

Having previously not heard of Dutasteride I hought it might be better than Tamsulosin until I looked it up.

About as scary of side effects as I've seen on any medication. Why don't they just give you a gun or a knife?

[IanMK in reply to HiloHairy]

The only possible side effect I have experienced is reduced ejaculate volume but that's no big issue. The lack of side effects is largely wasted since my post-menopausal partner now has a low libido

[seasider18 in reply to IanMK]

Why put up with nasty drugs with side effects when there are now many surgical options and now a radiological option (PAE) available.

I had GL laser for my 75grm prostate in 2004 with life back to normal on day two. When it regrew to 135 grms I had Thulium/Holmium laser in 2013 and no problem since and my PSA down from 9.8 to 0.70

[Grayjay]

I take Tamsulosin for enlarged Prostrate. No side effects as I've noticed. I couldn't do without it otherwise I couldn't pass water. Not nice.☺

[seasider18]

I started to develop ED while taking it and it gave me floppy iris syndrome after quite short usage. It did though hasten my cataract procedure. Amiodarone also had an effect on my eyes by causing deposits to form on my corneas.

The surgeon doing my cataract asked the sister 'Why do they give me all the difficult ones 'I used to take the Tamsulosin during the week and a Cialis at the weekend to counteract its effect and found my flow was much better for a couple of days. Nowadays one a day Cialis is a better option for an improved urine flow. When a friends urologist prescribed it for him he said all his cardiology colleagues were now taking for its cardiac benefits.

I asked the practice nurse if Amiodarone or Bisoprolol was her most complained about drug. She said 'No it is Tamsulosin'

I said 'Yes by men'

She replied 'No by their wives'

Would any ladies here comment on that ?

[HiloHairy in reply to seasider18]

Wow Seasider, that's chilling!

At my GP's suggestion I take them both. I suspect that if not for the Cialis I might be having problems too. I'm going to try to get off the flomax completely and see what happens.

For those interested in the Cialis, it got much much cheaper this year since the patent expired. I'm now paying about $25 a month without having to get it offshore or even use insurance.

[seasider18 in reply to HiloHairy]

For UK patients the normal NHS dosage is limited to four tablets a month for diabetics etc. with ED. But the daily pill can be prescribed as a prostate med.

When prescribed it earlier for ED I was surprised when an immigrant Polish pharmacist once said that he did not have enough in stock and gave me eight to be going on with and gave me an IOU for twenty. I realised that he had not understood how the prescription was worded. The same happened the next twice..... how lucky I was to get him so often

I thought there might be a comeback for my GP overprescribing and told him. He just laughed and said that I had done well.