Flomax

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proudpop - 07 Dec 2003 18:14 GMT

Have any of you who are taking Flomax noticed that it makes you drowsy?
While doing reasearch on treatments for BPH I saw that one of the possible
side effects is drowsiness. I have been taking Flomax for about three years.
It is nearly impossible for me to watch TV after dinner without falling
asleep or to drive long distances without fighting drowsiness. As I think
about it these sypmptoms became worse in the past 3 years but I thought it
was from being on the threshold of my 6th decade of life. Now that I think
about it that may not be the reason.

I will soon be getting a PVP and need no further reason to get the procedure
but if I could again pee like a stallion AND watch TV with my bride.... WOW!
Another side effect listed is irritability but I think I was born grumpy so
that may not go away. :-}
Myron

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Wayne Jones - 07 Dec 2003 23:03 GMT

I switched from Cardura to flomax (.4Mg) a couple of months ago and did not
notice any drowsiness.
You may have sleep apnea.
Didn't notice any improvement in BPH symptom relief either.
Wayne

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John G. - 09 Dec 2003 18:34 GMT

> Have any of you who are taking Flomax noticed that it makes you drowsy?
> While doing reasearch on treatments for BPH I saw that one of the possible
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> was from being on the threshold of my 6th decade of life. Now that I think
> about it that may not be the reason.

I too take Flomax and am waiting for more aggressive treatments. It is
an Alpha Blocker in the same class as Hytrin and Cardura, and while it
isn't supposed to cause the severe reaction that Hytrin can cause, it is
still able to drop your blood pressure and make you drowsy, head-achy
and irritable. This effect should sort itself out over time while your
body gets used to it.

Keep in mind though, falling asleep in front of the TV may be the fault
of boring programming, not the drug ;)

Griff

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Derek F - 09 Dec 2003 22:39 GMT

> > Have any of you who are taking Flomax noticed that it makes you drowsy?
> > While doing reasearch on treatments for BPH I saw that one of the possible
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Griff

I am about to start Proscar and Flomax. As I already take two BP meds I
voiced my concern to the doc about the additional effect on my BP. He
suggested that I take them at bed time to begin with, as Flowmax is slow
release I doubt if it will make much difference when taken.
Derek.

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Derry Argue - 10 Dec 2003 09:45 GMT

>> > Have any of you who are taking Flomax noticed that it
>> > makes you drowsy?

I have been taking Flomax for several years and do have problems
with drowiness, so much so that I will stop to have a nap
several times when doing my regular 400 mile trip to get the
dogs' food.

Since PVP on the 3rd December, I have decided to stop the Flomax
(as of the 8th) as my stream is fine. I will report back if the
drowsiness goes away. None of the doctors/surgeons have
suggested I stop, but then I forgot to ask! I have also stopped
the pain killers (prescribed after PVP) as I have no pain and
they were causing some wooziness. I still feel great!

Derry

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Derek F - 10 Dec 2003 11:42 GMT

> >> > Have any of you who are taking Flomax noticed that it
> >> > makes you drowsy?
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Derry

I should think that your days of needing Flowmax are gone.
Derek.

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bnd777 - 12 Dec 2003 00:06 GMT

> >> > Have any of you who are taking Flomax noticed that it
> >> > makes you drowsy?
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Derry

Derry ........Gordon Muir would have told you to stop Flomax and Proscar a
week before the op

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Derry Argue - 12 Dec 2003 08:53 GMT

> Derry ........Gordon Muir would have told you to stop
> Flomax and Proscar a week before the op

I think they are pretty pressured. I got the pre-op information
sheet the same day I had surgery but guessed I shouldn't eat six
hours before the op!Mr Cutting said it should have been sent out
earlier. No mention of stopping Flomax.

Derry

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Derek F - 12 Dec 2003 10:24 GMT

> > Derry ........Gordon Muir would have told you to stop
> > Flomax and Proscar a week before the op
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Derry

You also mentioned that they asked you to take Avodart for seven days before
the op and that has similar effects to Proscar.
Derek.

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Derek F - 16 Dec 2003 19:53 GMT

> I am about to start Proscar and Flomax. As I already take two BP meds I
> voiced my concern to the doc about the additional effect on my BP. He
> suggested that I take them at bed time to begin with, as Flowmax is slow
> release I doubt if it will make much difference when taken.
> Derek.

After starting Flowmax and Proscar last Tuesday my BP was lower than usual
the next morning and eventually went as low as 106/58 but my normally drug
induced pulse rate of under 50 was up to 61. By evening the headache began
and by Sunday my BP was much higher than normal all day. I woke up early
Monday morning with my heart pounding and checked my BP and pulse getting a
reading of 214/85 and a pulse of 112. Alarmed my wife phoned the docter who
came round to check me out. He said that my BP was still as high but heart
sounded all right and that my pulse had gone to 90. He had never heard of
such a reaction before but to stop taking the medication.

I did a Google search and found others who had a similar problem with Alpha
Blockers:-

"I have had bph problems for quite a while now. I have tried Cordura
and it really made me dizzy. I have tried Hytrin which I may have to
go back too. I was only taking 2 mgs a day, but it was helping a little.
The problem was it was making my heart beat pretty rapidlyt at times
and I decided to discontinue it".

Also:-
"A few days ago, I read an article in "Worst Pills, Best Pills" newsletter

warning of the dangers of alpha-blocker drugs. The article, by Sidney Wolfe,

M.D., cautioned that these drugs can significantly increase the chance of

heart attack or stroke. The article specifically named Cardura, Hytrin and

Flomax, all of which belong to the alpha-blocker family. Although, I had

been taking Flomax for the last two years and Proscar for more than five

years, I reluctantly decided to discontinue the Flomax out of concern that I

might increase my risk of stroke"

Also:-----

" I was having dizzy spells, weakness and after very little exertion, my
pulse rate would go sky

high. I normally have low blood pressure and that might have been some of

the problem. The fact that there are increased cases of congestive heart

failure and stroke are enough to make you think twice or more about taking

it".

When I posted my problem on a cardiac NG I got this reply from a Doctor:-

" I would wonder about the Flomax interacting with the verapamil by

lowering levels of the latter. This would raise both your heart rate

and your BP"

Derek.

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Aner - 16 Dec 2003 23:13 GMT

I woke up early Monday morning with my heart pounding and checked my BP and
pulse getting a reading of 214/85 and a pulse of 112.

Just wanted you to know that you are not the only one that had those symptoms
with Flowmax.

Several years ago I was on Hytrin. I also had problems with a racing pulse but
was unaware that alpha blockers could cause that problem. Neither was my doctor.
I wore Holter counter for 24 hours and had episodes of pulse rates as high as
150/min. My doctor wanted me to go on a beta blocker (known to slow down the
pulse). Because I had used a beta blocker previously, I knew is made my
lethargic. I couldn't exercise to any length of time because the pulse was too
slow to pump enough oxygen. I asked for a different solution and he came up with
a calcium channel blocker, Verapamil. He told me to discontinue the Hytrin.
Almost immediately my pulse returned to around 60/min, normal when I exercise
faithfully.

My BHP symptoms continued so a couple of years later (saw palmetto didn't work)
the doctor prescribed Flowmax. The first night I took it my pulse went sky high,
and then the bell rang - I'm sensitive to alpha blockers. I never took another
dose of Flowmax.

When I did a search of side effects I found the alpha blockers can cause a
racing pulse, but it is listed as a third tier side effect (extremely rare). I'm
not so sure. It wasn't rare for you and me.

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Derek F - 17 Dec 2003 01:24 GMT

It is quite a frightening experience. Next time I see the urologist he will probably say that it was not connected to Flowmax. When I have completely settled down I will go back on the Proscar.
It was the worst experience I have had since wakening up in the middle of the night with vertigo (caused by an inner ear infection). The world was spinning wildly as if I were in a vortex, sweat was pouring off me and my stomach was retching as if trying to be seasick causing my heart to pound. My wife phoned the doctor and a very young man arrived on a bicycle. He said I think I know what's wrong with you and gave me some tablets. Fortunately his diagnosis was accurate and the worst of the symptoms subsided but it was two days before I could get out of bed and about four days before I could drunkenly walk . I had been due to go horse racing the next day and had been patiently waiting for a persistent loser to be entered over what I thought would be his ideal distance. Two days later when I could focus on a newspaper I found that it had won at 50/1, I felt sick again:-) On the fifth day the horse was running again and I swayed down to the track where it won again but at the less generous odds of 5.5 to one.
Derek.
I woke up early Monday morning with my heart pounding and checked my BP and pulse getting a reading of 214/85 and a pulse of 112.

Just wanted you to know that you are not the only one that had those symptoms with Flowmax.

Several years ago I was on Hytrin. I also had problems with a racing pulse but was unaware that alpha blockers could cause that problem. Neither was my doctor. I wore Holter counter for 24 hours and had episodes of pulse rates as high as 150/min. My doctor wanted me to go on a beta blocker (known to slow down the pulse). Because I had used a beta blocker previously, I knew is made my lethargic. I couldn't exercise to any length of time because the pulse was too slow to pump enough oxygen. I asked for a different solution and he came up with a calcium channel blocker, Verapamil. He told me to discontinue the Hytrin. Almost immediately my pulse returned to around 60/min, normal when I exercise faithfully.

My BHP symptoms continued so a couple of years later (saw palmetto didn't work) the doctor prescribed Flowmax. The first night I took it my pulse went sky high, and then the bell rang - I'm sensitive to alpha blockers. I never took another dose of Flowmax.

When I did a search of side effects I found the alpha blockers can cause a racing pulse, but it is listed as a third tier side effect (extremely rare). I'm not so sure. It wasn't rare for you and me.

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Derek F - 17 Dec 2003 01:33 GMT

The side effect is listed in the British National Formulae. I am glad that I did not get a priaprism at the same time:-)
Derek.
SIDE-EFFECTS
Side-effects of selective alpha-blockers include drowsiness, hypotension (notably postural hypotension), syncope, asthenia, depression, headache, dry mouth, gastro-intestinal disturbances (including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation), oedema, blurred vision, rhinitis, erectile disorders (including priapism), tachycardia, and palpitations. Hypersensitivity reactions including rash, pruritus and angioedema have also been reported.

I woke up early Monday morning with my heart pounding and checked my BP and pulse getting a reading of 214/85 and a pulse of 112.

Just wanted you to know that you are not the only one that had those symptoms with Flowmax.

Several years ago I was on Hytrin. I also had problems with a racing pulse but was unaware that alpha blockers could cause that problem. Neither was my doctor. I wore Holter counter for 24 hours and had episodes of pulse rates as high as 150/min. My doctor wanted me to go on a beta blocker (known to slow down the pulse). Because I had used a beta blocker previously, I knew is made my lethargic. I couldn't exercise to any length of time because the pulse was too slow to pump enough oxygen. I asked for a different solution and he came up with a calcium channel blocker, Verapamil. He told me to discontinue the Hytrin. Almost immediately my pulse returned to around 60/min, normal when I exercise faithfully.

My BHP symptoms continued so a couple of years later (saw palmetto didn't work) the doctor prescribed Flowmax. The first night I took it my pulse went sky high, and then the bell rang - I'm sensitive to alpha blockers. I never took another dose of Flowmax.

When I did a search of side effects I found the alpha blockers can cause a racing pulse, but it is listed as a third tier side effect (extremely rare). I'm not so sure. It wasn't rare for you and me.

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