Flomax side effects

My dad(67yrs) is using flomax for the past 2 years or so for enlarged prostate.
He got terrible urine infection 1 month ago.Now he got paralytic attack.
Will it be due to Flomax ?.Any help is greatly appreciated
I think it's completely due to Flomax.
-rk

I have experienced severe lower back pain after taking FloMax for 2 weeks. Since I have stopped taking FloMax, The lower back pain has gone away.

I started flomax five days ago and have noticed two things: one, I get dizzy when I stand, and two, my ejaculate is colored..... brownish. My psa is 1.6.

Alas, it has made no difference to my wanting to pee all the time, so back to square one. I've tired proscar and detrol, but neither have helped. At least they had no side-effects

I have been on Flomax less than a week. Already I am seeing signs of mental confusion, being drowsy to the point of almost falling asleep at inopportune times, muscle cramps, and a dull ache in the area of the prostate.

Flow was good prior to starting Flomax. It has improved slightly but so has a sense of urgency. It seems to be acting a bit like a diuretic in that I am going a lot more frequently and with high volume and good pressure.

Diuretics can cause a loss of potassium, which can result in severe muscle cramps or spasm. I have had a charley horse in the calf, a foot that cramped up when I stood on it, and a tightening of the abdomen such that I could see a lump in one area. One must wonder if these are related.

The precautions include watching for heard palpitations. The heart is a muscle, isn't it? I would not want that muscle cramping up.

Perhaps the doctor thinks it advisable to attain perfection in urinary performance. But perhaps it is better to go through life with a slight problem that will likely not change, and also without irritating a gland that is prone to cancer. In reading the postings here it would seem that this medical perfection comes at a great cost.

Update! I stopped the Flomax and three days later I am 100% back to normal ejaculations. My wife and I are very happy that this medicine had no long term side effects. I wish my doctor had mentioned any of these side effects before prescribing this medicine. I'm just going to make an extra trip to the bathroom, it's better than zero ejaculate!!!! Good luck to all of you guys!

How long does it take to be free of the side effects from taking Flomax? After being on 2 Flomax pills daily for over a year, I was still up 3x in the night. I stopped taking Flomax a month ago after reading here the side effects and realizing I suffered from many of them. Trouble sleeping, sinus headaches, almost zero libido etc. Question...when will the libido return?
R. (Ontario)

I am a 42 year old healthy man that started getting tired of getting up during meetings every hour and a half to urinate. I went to the doctor and he prescribed Flomax. The frequent urination has improved, but the sexual side effects are awful. I first noticed a significant decrease in ejaculate. No big deal. I refrained from ejaculation for a week and this morning, when I had my orgasm I had zero ejaculate. The flomax is in the trash! I can not fix one thing and totally mess up a really good sex life. I sure hope this will not have any long term effects. I'm just trying to honest!!

My dad is 73 years old and has been in the hospital, rehab, nursing care, back to hospital, currently back in rehab since August 3, 2008. He was on Flomax which he was taken off of the first week in August after arriving to the hospital with low blood pressure and leg weakness to the point of being unable to walk. He had been taking it for years so doctors did not think Flomax the cause. However, once they ret'd him on Flomax he was unable to hold his head up when sitting in wheel chair (drooling) and very unresponsive. He also vomited and just stared at it, unable to respond to try to clean himself up. They took him off Flomax with some improvement. (He could hold his head up and respond.) His weakness declined to the point that he can no longer pee/poop without a diaper, can't swallow, can't speak (due to weakened vocal chords), and has no energy. He has a feeding tube. To date, they have not been able to pin point what dad's problem is. I noticed that on October 10, 2008, they returned him to Flomax. He again is sitting in wheelchair with head hanging down. No energy to do rehab. I have requested they take him off Flomax and LEAVE him off. I don't trust this drug. I think his long-term use of this drug could be what's killing my him.

I started taking flowmax due to low flow and dribble. im 37 and never had problems like this before. Flow was great after a day on the flowmax. after a week it seemed to stop working. My doctor insisted taking 2 .4mg pills instead of one. 3 days later flow wasn't any better and my lower back and groin started to hurt. I stopped the flowmax and now its one month later, flow is better but my pain in my lower back and groin isn't getting better. anyone else have this groin pain? ive had no ejaculation problems but my wife has commented that im always tired and my sex drive has all but disappeared.

I was unable to have an orgasm or ejaculate.

60 YO male: three weeks on .4 Flomax

I went on it because after Parathyroid surgery for kidney stones, I was still having symptoms. Mostly a painful urgency to pee, with only tablespoons coming out. That would last for 3-6 hours. I started out with pyridium (the pill that turns your urine orange). That seemed to help, but I was still having some lower-right abdomen KS pain events with the urgency. The urologist suspects I still have some stones that have yet to come out.

My prostate exam and PSA were good. No signs of cancer. I don't think the size of the prostrate was measured or whether BPH was an issue because of the obvious Parathyroid issue.

I started taking .4 Flomax, got the lightheadedness that evolved into a feeling of being slightly high most of the time. And feeling mildly relaxed.
Flow was improved, maybe a few less pees per day. Still peeing at least twice a night; good stream, good quantity.

Not a runny nose, but a thicker discharge. This week (3 weeks in) the nose is better.

Lower volume and clearer ejaculate. After the last ejaculation, I went right into an urgency and lower right KS pain event that lasted 6 hours. I was uncomfortable, but OK on Tylenol and pyridium. My events frequently happen on Saturday/Sunday. I have tried to figure out what, if anything I might be doing to cause or break this cycle, but there seems to be no correlation. I was hoping to get rid of the painful and disruptive urgency episodes, but so far they are still here every week or so.

Dreams have been a bit weird.

I have a swollen knee and toe, but this could be due to some hiking while on vacation. I saw the posts about painful joints, but can't make a direct connection yet.

Since Flomax three weeks ago, there seems to be a low level feeling in my lower abdomen. Not a pain as much as a presence, a tension. I think it's in the testicles, but you know how that is; accidentally smack one and the pain feels like it's inside the body.

I took my first Flowmaxtra last night, had difficulty going to sleep, woke up feeling I had been having bad dreams, my wife tells me I was talking in my sleep ( unusual ) and I had a sinus headache, also unusual. also discovered no ejaculate. to sum up,

sinus headache, disturbed sleep, no ejaculate

I will settle for a reduced urine flow, I am taking no more of these pills.

i've been taking flomax for about 7 years due to neurogenic bladder. also back problems. i have had no problem with this medication, and it makes or allows me me rather to urinate very well. i have had no loss in reduction of sperm or erection. this pill is a godsend for me. my age is 41.

I am a female on Flomax (to try and speed the release of a kidney stone). I've been on the medication for 4 weeks and my arms (including my hands) and legs have become very weak and tired feeling all the time. I feel dizzy most of the time, due to Flomax causing a blood pressure drop, which also leaves me freezing (even in 90-95 degree weather). I now have begun to feel nauseated and can't stand the thoughts of any food whatsoever. There has got to be another medicine that can do the same thing as Flomax without all the side effects.

Terrible constipation, stuffed sinus, stopped taking after 40 days, and strangely after 15 days my nocturia has not returned, i wonder how long this drug remains in the body?
David T( London)

I have been on Flowmax almost a year. It solved the hard to go problem almost immediately. I do not have any problem going to the bathroom and usually make it through the night now without having to get up. I do not have a particularly hard time getting an erection, but I have notice a much lower ejaculation and less satisfying climax. But age could also be a factor for me at 64. For the most part I like what Flowmax did for me. Before the doc put me on Flowmax there would be times I had a hard time urinating and it was scary. For me I will have to continue using the drug.

I've been on Flomax almost a month now and am pissing like a teen ager once again. I am 60 years old and have had BPE for several years, Tried saw palmetto with no results. Within a day of beginning Flomax, I noticed a much improved pee stream, started easier, finished when I was empty not when I was tired of straining.

Sexually, I still achieve a satisfying climax; however, there is zero ejaculate. But, I am well beyond that time when I want to conceive a child, so this is no biggie as long a s the orgasms are satisfying.

I have read many of the horror stories of the guys (and girls) posted here and feel truly lucky I am able to tolerate the medication as well as I do. One could get the impression from reading here that the drug is very dangerous with many serious side effects, but then again, generally only those with a problem typically will be found posting to sites like this one.

Took 1 pill 0.4 no ejaculation for 2 days. and weakness.

TERRIBLE took first dose yesterday morning my gf loves to swallow almost gagged last eve how can 2 pills change that much almost passed out bout noon nooooooooooooo more of this crap still have kidney stones will deal with it

I must be one of the "unusual" cases. I have been taking Flomax for about 4 years with no significant side effects. It took about 7 days for my system to adjust but after that I have had very few problems. I do have an occasional sinus problem but none of the other symptoms described in these posts. Flomax was prescribed because of BPH and urinary difficulty. It has worked very well for me.

I have taken Flomax for three nights. Each night, I woke up after having a disturbing and rather intense dream. This kind of dream was something that might happen once per year. Three nights in a row is very unlikely to be an accident.

I WILL NEVER TAKE THIS CRAP AGAIN!

Of the last four medications I've taken, three caused unacceptable side effects!

Gosh... this is such a big surprise. I have recently read that pharmaceutical companies have been tampering with the results of drug studies. They also have a "buddy-buddy" relationship with the Food and Drug Administration and some members of congress.

I can't wait for November 2008 to vote against the regime that is in power and which allowed this kind of farce to occur in agencies that are supposed to help protect Americans from crappy "medicines".

I took 1 .4 mg pill. ONE pill. This is now the second day and I cannot ejaculate at all. My orgasms are weaker than they used to be, and I'm scared that this isn't going to return to normal. I can't believe that they let people use this stuff..

I was prescribed this drug because of a kidney stone that I needed to pass which passed and would have passed without taking the drug. I thought that it would be nice to have around, but there is no way in hell I'm taking this ever again. I'm just sorry that I wasted ~$40 on this med with my insurance! This is one expensive drug, and the side effect of not being able to ejaculate is not worth it to me.

How long does this crap stay in your system!?

I'm seriously worried.

On the up side... I think they've inadvertently discovered a male birth control pill.

Here's another article about a guy having a similar experience and discussing how the company found a male birth control pill:

http://www.theputdown.com/theputdown/2008/03/flomax-male-bir.html

Had I read this, I never would have taken this drug.

mmm, contrary to virtually all the previous comments, I don't seem to have any adverse reaction to Flomaxtra. I had complete urinary retention, that required insertion of a catheter. My psa is normal, and my prostate size is typical for age. Flomaxtra was suggested as an alternative to surgery. Flow has increased from zero prior to taking the medication, to 12-15cc/second after about 2 weeks . (I am 54 years old). I have been on Flomaxtra for 6 weeks now . The only physical change I have noticed, is an increase in penis size, likely due to relaxing of muscle. Ejaculation and erection is normal. I do not like taking drugs, and will monitor any changes, but life is one hell of a lot better than not being able to pee, and catheters are so dehumanizing.

I first started to take Flowmax about three years ago and took it for about a year. I had most of the symptoms mentioned but also had swelling of one of my lymph nodes in the neck, also a nodule appeared next to one of my testicles (which I presume was another lymph node as it has now disappeared) , severe sore throat which had me off work for nearly a month. Together with all the other symptoms I thought I was on my way out! - Then I had reason to go away for a long weekend and forgot to take the Flowmax with me and most of the Symptoms disappeared!! It was only at this stage that I actually looked at the side affects of the drug on the packaging did I realize what I had put myself through. Never again will I take for granted that medicine "will do me good" I harsh lesson. My neck gland is still the size of a golf ball, and now through ultrasound they have found nodules in my thyroid gland. Is this all part of the same thing I ask myself? (ps I did not get the painful erection which was more or less the only one I did not get)

march 29 2008 HAS ANY OTHER MAN THAT TOOK FLOMAX OVER A YEAR HAD TINGLING AND NUMBNESS OF THE TOES , I HAVE THIS CONDITION, AND WONDER IF FLOMAX IS THE CAUSE

Does anyone know how to purge this crap out of your system? I've only taken a small number (5) for kidney stones. I had 2 of them back to back...I'm completely clear now -thank god!
I took the last one 10 days ago and the side effects just won't go away...I drink lots of water and finally went to a homeopathic doctor for help...My urologist was of no help. I'm scared that it'll never go away...Can anyone help?
Robert

I am glad to have found this site. My partner has been on flomax for about 2 months with decrease in sex drive ,less firm erection and ,less ejaculate. of course he has the orthostatic hypotension and, more headaches than usual.. he is 62 prostate is not enlarged and he does not have cancer, just a weak flow and trouble starting. go back to DR in 2 wks will inform md of these symptoms and report back. thanks

Been on Flomax for 6 weeks. Seems to be of no value as far as frequent night time urination. Still get up multiple times. I have a feeling of malaise and zero libido and zero ejaculate. Also on Avodart for BPH and see no improvement. I think I will opt for either a laser or microwave treatment to reduce the prostate size at the bladder and get off these useless drugs.

I have had problems with kidney stones but thank god, no prostrate issues..
My first stone occurred in the fall of '05. My doctor at the time - the nastiest old bastard that ever graduated med school, prescribed Flomax to help the stone pass.....I took one or two and the stone passed in a few days..I don't recall any side effects from that instance.

Fast forward to Jan '08...I had another stone that made itself "known" to me for weeks before being diagnosed.......That after a trip to the ER.Lotsa' fun, everyone should go!.....I took Flomax about three times during that period and had some nasty side effects - reflecting many that have been previously published here. I got dizzy and nauseated at times.....I also suffer from panic/anxiety disorder.Flomax made me a basket case!......The "roaring" and "ringing"in the ears was and still is problem..... I passed that stone in early Feb.....
At the end of Feb the BIG ONE (1cm) decided to drop down the ol' ureter. My present urologist (Yeah the old buzzard finally retired!) gave me options, as stones of that size are real mothers to pass. Take pain pills, Uricit and Flomax......Or insert a stint and wait.....The final option was lithotrypsy. Lithotrypsy is an outpatient procedure that breaks up the stone into smaller pieces while still in the body via vibrational waves...
I had the procedure and most of the particles were flushed out.....I recommend this procedure for a quick but costly fix....
The doctor warned me that there would be smaller particles that might take weeks to work their way out........Well, that's what happened..Just when I was recovering from all the medication - Flomax included, I had another piece start working it's way down..It's still mocking me as I write this.
I took Flomax - out of desperation for three days for the purpose of flushing out this one last particle. My patience with this stone and it's aftermath was at an end! I wish I hadn't taken them.......The dreams, anxiety, rushing in the ears, dizziness..The whole thing! I had three capsules left and ground them up and threw them out today!

Flomax is hell on earth and I regret ever taking it. If I'd read this board on Sat I would have thrown them out then and just dealt with it, well I didn't and I'm suffering again.....Will it ever end?

Has anyone else experienced a bitter metallic taste in the mouth as well as an unpleasant smell to the urine as well? I also have this irritating urge to urinate but the flow is moderate........I was doing well without any medication when I got impatient and took the Flomax. How long will this be in my system I wonder.... Sex drive? I have none now.......Kidney stones really take it out of you, that mixed with the Flomax has put me on the sexual sidelines.....*sigh*.
Robert

Constant ringing in the ears after taking flomax for several months.Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

i haven,t be able to get it up now in one day with flomaxs it up all the time is that right for it .

My husband was prescribed FLOMAX about six months ago for a slightly enlarged prostate. He is 48 years old and had been very fit as a contractor in the construction industry. Now he is extremely weak, has terrible pains in his elbows and joints especially fingers. Last week he thinks he broke a rib just pushing a piece of scaffolding into place (something he has done many times with no ill effects). He has aged in his body so much that I fear he may not be able to continue work. He has no energy at all and seems irritable and depressed. I feel that by reading the side effects that others have mentioned that we have hope that he is not dying! If he stops will these side effects go away?

First dose, passed out, went into shock, taken by the ambulance to the ER. Face cut requiring stitches, ribs bruised with cuts on my rib wall. Freaked my wife out totally.

I am a female taking narcotic pain medication due to a back injury. Those pills make it hard to pee. My doc put me on Flomax to help me empty my bladder. I have had swollen sinus every night when I sleep. I have extreme elbow, wrist and finger pain that lasts all day/night long. My legs and knees are very stiff and sore. If I stand on my feet for more than a couple of minutes, my soles ache. I feel extremely tired and exhausted. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!! Now that I am off of it, my retention problem is worse than ever before. I wish I would have seen this web page before starting this horrible drug.

Here's what I got. I got to urinate a little bit easier. I got headaches, fairly intense back aches,all day drowsiness, with inability to sleep upon retiring. I got a stuffy nose along with slightly blurred vision. My energy level and physical output were almost nonexistent and I have become "edgy" while getting annoyed easily.A complete feeling of being uncomfortable and feeling ill. In my opinion the side effects are not worth it.

I have been own Flomaz for 4 weeks. I stopped a few days ago because of sever back pain and thought I potentially had a kidney infection. After reading these postings I realize I am experiencing many of the same side effects of 100's of others. In addition to the back pain I have been nauseated, groggy and tired. I have no ejaculation but still orgasm. All of this an little to no improvement in my urination. The only good side effect is that it seems to have enlarged my penis.

I am done with this drug!

I have been taking Flowmax for several months and have had problems getting an erection,I have very little sex drive.I have been having a lot of gas,and pains in my left side .Very little semen fluid and sometimes no climax at all.Very displeased with this product.Will seek for other remedies.ron 3748

insomnia, reverse ejaculation, . Insomnia after 5 weeks, reverse ejaculation after 3 days. stopped Flomax 8 days ago and still can't sleep without a pill ! never had sleep problems in my life. does something to the sleep mechanism in your brain. they show 2.4 % with insomnia - i wonder about that as it seems a consistent theme on this board. Flomax did not stop me from going 3 x a night and only yielded a very moderate urine flow improvement.

after six weeks on .4 mlg i have insomnia for the first time in my life. since i had only minimal symptom relief with Flomax anyway, i dc'd it after telling my Dr. Now been 8 days and I still can't sleep without a pill. how long does this crap stay in your system??

I have been on Flomax for 10 months. Went to Mozambique in September and passed out while hunting. Thought it was because of lack of H2O but was well hydrated, ringing in ears has not stopped, itching and liver pain getting worse, 1-08. Went to the doctor and he said I had MS...give me a brake!!! I'm 55 and I've never had internal problems other than a little high blood pressure and a slow flow... Why do doctors ram this crap down our throats???? I'm taking myself off this crap...all I have read on this thread are things I have noticed since starting this witches brew!!!
TB

Dosage: 0.4mg / Day for 5 days.
Age: 26
Occupation: Chemist

Physical:
Feels like something is pulling down on my lungs inside of my chest. Sinus blockage. It feels actually like Viagra where there is swelling in the sinus cavity but not due to mucus. Result is a slightly blocked airway in nasal passage. NO EJACULATE, able to orgasm, but nothing comes out. (A good male birth control pill?) Sporadic, short headaches (~2-4 / Day). Shallow breathing, shortness of breath after going up stairs. Feeling weak all day long. Most of these probably due to lower blood pressure.

Mental:
Wanting to sleep more. A small lack of motivation to socialize, but not major. Annoyed / Angered more easily and often. (could be due to NO EJACULATE!!) A little humor there. No, seriously, I am really easy to agitate now. I wouldn't say lower sex drive, but more controlled sex drive. I felt horny most of the time before Flomax, but now only when engaged in sexual activity. (kind of nice actually) Haven't noticed anything about dream alterations.

Side Note:
The ejaculation part scares me a little bit just as others have expressed. As long as it comes back when I am off that is fine. Flomax DOES NOT shrink the prostate, it relaxes the prostate. I can see why this may cause a lack of ejaculate since the prostate in a way, a sperm valve. I feel like this should really be listed in the side effects but I know that masturbation is not part of clinical trials. Interesting though...could it be used as a male birth control pill? The first few days, a small small volume of ejaculate came out. Now, at day 5, dry as a bone.

I took Flomax for three days and then fainted,fell down and broke both hips. I am mostly recovered but not as flexible as before. Neither my doctor or pharmacist had warned me about fainting as a side effect. This drug is very dangerous. I had never fainted before in 78 years. I could have been driving and killed myself and others.

Been on Flomax for 3 days, already noticed no ejaculation AT ALL, seem to be more sluggish and tired than usual, urine flow has improved and pain has subsided. not decided on benefits outlaying side effects yet.

My MD gave me a free sample when I complained that my BPH caused me to get up too frequently ( 4-5 times an evening) to get a good nights sleep. I took Flomax .4mg for three nights and got great results the third evening with only one trip to the bathroom. However, the day after I fainted and for the last four days I have been dizzy despite not taking anymore Flomax. I was admitted to the hospital for tests. They were all negative but documented my Flomax induced orthostatic hypotension with repeated measurments of lying, sitting and then standing BP measurments.
I am 64 and never had this problem prior to taking those three Flomasx pills. RLR

fainting, dizziness

Started taking it a week and 3 days ago. was taking uroxatral 10 mg for the last 6 years, After my side effects and reading tthis web, I plan to return to Uroxatral.

I have been taking Flomax for 5 days. My urine flow was about the same for the first day or so, and I believe I have been getting up as many times as normal. The urge to go seems like it is less, however.

The first day, I noticed no sperm (only clear liquid) after ejaculation. this happened twice. the rest of the days were normal.

I do notice that I get dizzy sometimes after standing and feel like I have sortness of breath.

I took saw palmetto for a year and it is worthless (one pill per day), as my doctor told me it would be..

Only been using Flomax for 2 days and notice right away the stream flow is a little better on urination. The only side effect I have had is absolutlely no semen on ejaculating which scares the hell out of me. I am getting off this Flomax right away and am going to try some natural remedy like saw palmetto and other associated herbs. This looks like a dangerous product from what little experience I have had with it.

September 30, 2007
I took Flomax for three weeks and stopped using it due to its side effects that were totally unacceptable. After my first week of use, I experienced significant back pain over the lower left and right side of my back. The pain would linger throughout the day and dissipated by late afternoon. I also experienced a subtle chest pain along with significant joint pain in each elbow. The elbow joint pain lasted well into the afternoon too. The subtle chest pain would disappear by Noon. What really concerned me was a general weakness in my arms, hands and legs. I couldn't grip, push or pull as I could before, and my legs felt weaker when exercising. In fact, my right arm (I'm right handed) felt much like a limb just "waking up from being asleep". I did not have a tingling sensation, but a heaviness and weakness that was a great concern to me. The urinary flow with Flomax was not great, but OK. After the first week, my doctor wanted me to take two 0.4mg Flomax tablets. I tried two tablets for two days. Two 0.4mg Flomax tablets doubled the intensity of my side effects. I immediately went back to taking one 0.4mg Flomax tablet. I stopped using Flomax after 21 days. Enough was enough. For me, as a 59 year old man, this drug caused more pain than help. I am now on Terazosin and this seems to be working out OK.

I have fbeen taking Flomax for 5 days. My doc never warned me about any side effects. I shlould have asked, but he is so fast and abrupt, he really does not give a guy any time to ask questions. So far, I have an occasional pain in my gut like I just got kicked. What really freaked me out was the fact that I have absolutely no semen output during ejaculation. That is a very strange side effect. Also, my legs seem weak. And my vision is very blurry. My urine stream is a little better, and I don't have to urinate as often. I slept through the night once or twice. Big deal. Not a good tradeoff in my estimation. I am so used to getting up 2 or 3 times a night, it really does not impact my sleep that much. Thanks to this board, I am going back to my Physicians Choice Super Prostate Formula. Google it. It has helped me and several guys that I know a lot. It definately made things a lot more manageable. I have nothing to do with the company that makes it. Just thought that I would give all of you a heads up on somehting that seems to help me a lot. Thanks.

Flomax was causing horrible dreams that I would act out and hurt my partner at one point,,,,,,,,,,, All mentioned side effects that I have read I have had.

I STOPPED taking the drug. Will wait to see if all the symptons stop