What are the long term side effects of Flomax?

Can Flomax cause permanent damage?

Priapism is a rare but severe side effect of Flomax. If you experience priapism, contact your doctor immediately. Untreated priapism can lead to permanent problems with having and maintaining an erection.

Do I have to take Flomax forever?

For enlarged prostate – if tamsulosin is helping your symptoms, you can continue to take it long term. Your doctor may check every few months that you're still having relief from symptoms. For kidney stones – your doctor may tell you to stop taking it if your stones have gone or if the medicine is not helping you.

Can you take Flomax long term?

Long-term treatment with tamsulosin is safe and well tolerated in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia. Improved efficacy was sustained during 4 years of followup.

Does Flomax cause dementia?

Tamsulosin, best known under the brand name Flomax, is commonly used to treat non-cancerous prostate conditions such as BPH and prostatitis.

How to take Tamsulosin (FLOMAX) | What All Patients Need to Know | Dose, Side Effects

What happens when you stop taking Flomax?

Tamsulosin oral capsule is used for long-term treatment. It comes with risks if you don't take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don't take it at all: Your BPH symptoms won't improve. If you stop taking this drug for several days, talk to your doctor before starting again.

Does tamsulosin affect the kidneys?

Conclusions: The results of the 2 studies indicate that the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of tamsulosin are not significantly influenced by renal or hepatic function. This suggests that no dose adjustment of tamsulosin is necessary in patients with renal or hepatic insufficiency.

Why is Flomax taken at night?

Dosage for Flomax

Take the first dose at bedtime to minimize the chances of getting dizzy or fainting.

Does Flomax shrink the prostate?

It does not shrink the prostate, but it works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and the bladder. This helps to relieve symptoms of BPH such as difficulty in beginning the flow of urine, weak stream, and the need to urinate often or urgently (including during the middle of the night).

Is there a natural alternative to Flomax?

Saw palmetto

This herb helps relax muscles in the bladder and prostate to relieve urinary symptoms. It may work as well as the medication finasteride (Proscar) to treat BPH.

What is a good alternative to Flomax?

How long should you take Flomax?

Flomax usually begins to work rapidly, but in some individuals, improvement may take two to four weeks. In clinical studies, most Flomax users have been shown to have symptom improvement for at least five years while taking the medication.

Are side effects of tamsulosin reversible?

These effects are reversible with drug discontinuation (28). Effects of alpha adrenergic antagonists on blood pressure may also cause ED (15). Tamsulosin has also shown a strong affinity for the 5-HT_1A and D₂ receptors which are both involved in the central control of ejaculation (27).

Do side effects from tamsulosin go away?

Some side effects of tamsulosin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Does Flomax affect sleep?

Examples: alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), silodosin (Rapaflo), terazosin (Hytrin) and tamsulosin (Flomax). How they can cause insomnia: Alpha-blockers are linked to decreased REM (rapid eye movement) sleep — the stage of sleep when people dream — and daytime sedation or sleepiness.

Can you drink coffee while taking Flomax?

You are advised not to drink alcohol while you are on tamsulosin. Alcohol increases the risk of side-effects from tamsulosin, such as feeling faint or dizzy. Consider reducing or stopping the amount of caffeine you drink (commonly found in tea, coffee and cola).

Does Flomax affect blood pressure?

Flomax lowers blood pressure and may cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first start taking it, or when you start taking it again. Call your doctor if you have severe dizziness or feel like you might pass out. Some things can cause your blood pressure to get too low.

Does tamsulosin make you last longer in bed?

In addition, recent studies have reported that the improvement of LUTS by tamsulosin has been helpful in the recovery of sexual function. Meanwhile, with respect to ejaculation, tamsulosin has inhibitory effects such as reduced ejaculatory volume and delayed ejaculation.

Can tamsulosin affect bowel movements?

The reported frequency of diarrhea with tamsulosin is 0.1–1%³ is lower compared with prazosin (<4%),⁴ terazosin (4%)⁵ and doxazosin (1–3%). Clinicians favor tamsulosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia due to its uroselective action as well as the reduced cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side effects.

Can I stop taking tamsulosin cold turkey?

If, for any reason, you need to stop taking tamsulosin capsules for a few days, you should restart therapy with the 0.4mg dose, even if you have been taking the 0.8mg dose.

What is the best medication for enlarged prostate?

Can you take Flomax every other day?

Conclusions: Tamsulosin at a dose of 0.4 mg once daily and 0.4 mg once daily every other day for lower urinary tract symptoms provide comparable improvements in urinary flow and symptoms. Each treatment was well tolerated.

What drug shrinks the prostate?

5-alpha reductase inhibitors.

These medications shrink your prostate by preventing hormonal changes that cause prostate growth. These medications — which include finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart) — might take up to six months to be effective.

What are the most common side effects of tamsulosin?

Common Side effects of Tamsulosin include: Headache. Dizziness upon standing. Runny and stuffy nose.