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Can Flomax make BPH symptoms worse?
My 49 year-old-husband has had BPH for many years. His symptoms have been light to moderate, with urination rates decreasing a bit during the last few years. He saw an urologist several weeks ago, did various tests to exclude prostate cancer, and he was started on Flomax (.4mg in the evenings). The doctor said that he should It has now been 5 weeks.
No change was noticed for 4 weeks, but during the last week his symptoms have become, quite suddenly, worse: pain just before and during urination, sometimes persistent minor pain in the penis, dull pain at the front above the penis, slower than ever start to flow, more slow dribbling at the end, and reduced volume, so even more incomplete bladder emptying, and so of course more frequent urination, though not nocturia.
He has never had urinary infections in the past, and has not changed his lifestyle/eating/drinking habits lately. The only remarkable change has been starting on Flomax, so it would be a strange coincidence to suddenly develop a urinary infection. Can Flomax have anything to do with this? He is inclined to suspend it if only on the basis of no results, but now this new turn of events is worrying him.
Thank you
AC
No change was noticed for 4 weeks, but during the last week his symptoms have become, quite suddenly, worse: pain just before and during urination, sometimes persistent minor pain in the penis, dull pain at the front above the penis, slower than ever start to flow, more slow dribbling at the end, and reduced volume, so even more incomplete bladder emptying, and so of course more frequent urination, though not nocturia.
He has never had urinary infections in the past, and has not changed his lifestyle/eating/drinking habits lately. The only remarkable change has been starting on Flomax, so it would be a strange coincidence to suddenly develop a urinary infection. Can Flomax have anything to do with this? He is inclined to suspend it if only on the basis of no results, but now this new turn of events is worrying him.
Thank you
AC
Thank you for your answer. My husband is contacting his urologist, but I am reporting this in case you and other people in this forum are interested.
He has not taken any decongestant or antihistamines in the last few months, he has been on Corzaar for several years for familial thin membrane disease (benign kidney condition), but we could not find any information on bad interaction with Flomax. He has also been taking multivitamins and fish oil, and his diet has been healthy for years.
He stopped taking Flomax three days ago, and by today he is back to ``normal", where normal for him means slow urination due to long standing BHP, but not as slow, painful, and dribbling as with Flomax. We are just guessing that the way Flomax works by relaxing muscles is causing these effects. (Could the enlarged prostate end up pressing even more on muscles?? I realize these are just guesses: I have looked at a lot of medical sites, but this does not look like to be listed as a side effect!)
He will discuss this with his doctor, but he is now thinking of ditching Flomax and start on Saw Palmetto.
He has not taken any decongestant or antihistamines in the last few months, he has been on Corzaar for several years for familial thin membrane disease (benign kidney condition), but we could not find any information on bad interaction with Flomax. He has also been taking multivitamins and fish oil, and his diet has been healthy for years.
He stopped taking Flomax three days ago, and by today he is back to ``normal", where normal for him means slow urination due to long standing BHP, but not as slow, painful, and dribbling as with Flomax. We are just guessing that the way Flomax works by relaxing muscles is causing these effects. (Could the enlarged prostate end up pressing even more on muscles?? I realize these are just guesses: I have looked at a lot of medical sites, but this does not look like to be listed as a side effect!)
He will discuss this with his doctor, but he is now thinking of ditching Flomax and start on Saw Palmetto.
A related discussion, Flomax-no Prostate was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I, too, am surprised that his symptoms have changed as they have. He may not have been emptying his bladder even with the flomax and he may have developed further urinary retention. If he has taken any decongestants or antihistamines, they may have worked against the drug and, again, resulted in further emptying difficulties.
Call the urologist to discuss it. He probably will need to be seen.
S.A.Liroff, M.D.
"This information is provided for general medical educational purposes only. It
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Henry Ford Hospital or the
Vattikuti Urologic Institute. Please consult your physician for diagnostic
and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.”
Call the urologist to discuss it. He probably will need to be seen.
S.A.Liroff, M.D.
"This information is provided for general medical educational purposes only. It
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Henry Ford Hospital or the
Vattikuti Urologic Institute. Please consult your physician for diagnostic
and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.”
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