Flomax (Tamsulosin)

I was just prescribed Tamsulosin from my urologist, what experiences have you had with it? I want to hear the good and bad. What kind of side effects?

I was prescribed Tamsulosin last summer for relief of multiple trips to the bathroom at night And without being appraised of any side effects, I was shocked to have no visible ejaculate when I climaxed. Turns out "retrograde ejaculation" into the bladder is a known side effect of this drug. I had had a vasectomy decades ago so, my quantity was already reduced but, I mean, ZERO? did some research and found that this is no problem because it washes out of the bladder easily. Still, it would have been nice to know....my wife was starting to think I was faking orgasm!

And without being appraised of any side effects, I was shocked to have no visible ejaculate when I climaxed.

Do you still feel the orgasm?

@Littletwink I had my prostate out 3 yr ago and yes I could very much feel the orgasm & a very strong twitching of my penis and urethra behind my scrotum.

Much like Enamate9, I had the same issue of zero retrograde ejaculation. After I had taken it for about 3 months though, I had the problem of not being able to achieve an erection. The other problem that I had (and ultimately why I had to stop taking it) was passing out when standing up. After I passed out and almost fell into a 480 Volt AC electrical panel, I told the doctors that they could take me off of it or I could take myself off of it, but I was stopping taking it.

Been on it for years and while older it helps with frequency and stream so it is ok

Been on it for years and while older it helps with frequency and stream so it is ok.

My experience has been the same as yours @isitfull

I took my first pill about 8am and without any warning I fainted while walking up my stairs about 9am. I woke up with my head on the second floor and my body stretched over the top 4 stairs. Never took another pill and it was the wrong drug for the problem I had at the time. My Dr. referred me to a urology Np. who immediately gave me the proper drug for my problem.

Been on it for a number of years. Stopped night time bathroom visits. It has an effect of cutting the amount of semen during orgasm, sometimes none at all. The orgasms are a bit like the old days when you turned off a car, but it kept trying to run. Kind of a shaking, jerking for several seconds. Hard to explain. But the drug has kept me from getting UTI's.

I have taken this drug for many years and not had dizziness or fainting. I have had retrograde ejaculation ever since my laser surgery on my prostate. Tamsulosin came after.

I’ve been on this drug for nearly a decade. Did reduce my nighttime pee runs from 4 or 5 to 1 or 2. Also caused retro-ejaculation almost immediately. Never experienced an external forward cum gushing again. Then, unrelated, diagnosed with prostate cancer. Had radiation and other meds and am now about 4 years beyond that. During this time, I grew a nice set of size 42-D and very sensitive boobs requiring bra wearing. Have ED now, no ejaculation (backwards or forwards) which the Tamsulosin had nothing to do with. Good luck!

Been on it for some 8-years now. Seems to help lower blood pressure, working well with blood pressure meds I'm on. I don't like the retro-ejaculation, as sperm leaks out later. Also, I wonder if the retro increases chances of UTI's as a result of the fluid neutralizing acidity.. Thus, I make a point to always pee after ejaculation.

I have been taking Tamsolusin for the last fifteen years plus for an enlarged prostate as an alternative to surgery. It has never inhibited orgasm though now with increasing age I can no longer have erections I still have a discharge of sperm when I orgasm.

I am taking Tamsulosin and there has been a noticeable reduction in the amount of semen I ejaculate. Usually, I have just a trickle of fluid when I masturbate, but I still have orgasms. Occasionally if I haven't had sex or masturbated for 5 days or so, then I may be able to 'shoot' out some semen. With the Tamsulosin I may get up once in the middle of the night to pee, compared to 2-3 times before taking it.

While most with prostate problems have problems going too many times during the night; I have just the opposite problem - I never have to go during the night. In fact the reason I have to take Flomax is so I can go...

I started on this a while back and while it did help with my urinary problems, ejaculation/orgasm has been kinda difficult.

@Littletwink I have been using tamsulosin for six months and have had no collateral effects until today, previously I took doxosonin, it is almost similar to tamsulosin, I use the medicine because of the enlarged prostate.

I was on it for several years. It did what it was supposed to but had difficulty ejaculating. My semen turned clear and sometimes when I orgasmed, nothing came out. Dr determined it was going into my bladder.

I was also taking Proscar at the same time..

I haven’t used it, but may ask my doc for it as I have frequent urination issues during the day, but never at night. Supposedly, if works for enlarged prostate issues by relaxing muscles around the bladder and prostate. I’ve been told I don’t have an enlarged prostate, but size, muscle control is relative. We’ll see if the doc prescribes it and if it makes a difference

I was prescribed it in the past to aid in passing kidney stones. It caused me to have retrograde ejaculation for the entire time I was taking it. Once the stones passed and I discontinued it my ejaculations returned to normal.

The OP seems kinda young for Flomax, why was it prescribed? The most common use if for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH, aka "enlarged prostate), i administer it frequently to male patients in the hospital. i measure input and output on all my patients throughout there hospital stay, so they use a urinal. When i see a guy is voiding 100 to 200mL frequently, i ask the doctor to prescribe flowmax (i'm a critical care nurse).

The urge to void is triggered when the bladder has about 450 to 500mL of urine. What happens in BPH is the prostate sort of hugs, encompasses the urethra. When the prostate is swollen (hyperplasia) it squeezes the urethra and makes it harder to void and harder to empty the bladder. If the trigger is about 500mL and your only voiding 100 or 200, it doesn't take as long to get back to that trigger point, thus the frequent urge.

Another use for tamsulosin/Flomax (generic/Brand names), is sometimes a urinary tract infection can cause the prostate to swell. i did a vid for a Top where i put a catheter in myself and, despite precautions, gave myself an infection. The doctor prescribed Flomax and antibiotics and the Flowmax really helped while getting over the infection.

As to side effects, here's a link listing the studied/documented effects. As with all meds, not everyone has the same side effects.

https://www.drugs.com/flomax.html

Have been taking a half tab everyday

I have found that my fluid retention is severe.

Stopped two days ago the swelling in my legs has reduced

Last night I got up 4 times to pee.

I will check with my MD to see about an alternative 😉

frequent urination issues during the day, but never at night.

That's the way it has always been for me; before I took Flomax as well now that I've been on it for years. So for what it's worth, it just helps with better flow...

The urge to void is triggered when the bladder has about 450 to 500mL of urine. What happens in BPH is the prostate sort of hugs, encompasses the urethra. When the prostate is swollen (hyperplasia) it squeezes the urethra and makes it harder to void and harder to empty the bladder. If the trigger is about 500mL and your only voiding 100 or 200, it doesn't take as long to get back to that trigger point, thus the frequent urge.

Haven’t been checked for BPH in a while, but was never diagnosed with BPH. And urge incontinence, or frequent urination has been going on for years. My PCP said I could try FloMax but was skeptical of positive results. I’ll hold off and see what my urologist recommends. Another theory i was told is a breakdown between nerves that signal the bladder muscle. Age catching up with me!

Due to passing kidney stones, I now keep a supply of flomax in my medicine cabinet.

I don’t get the signal to pee and had a transurethral incision of the bladderneck to improve flow. It worked for a while but my now urologist says my prostate is normal sized but is blocking the flow of urine.

I have frequent urination i take Flomax for. It does not help all the way, but i can tell the difference when i do not take it. It does help me out.

I have bin on it for about 18 months. Has done wonders for night time pee calls most nights I don't get up at all. I was also on two blood pressure meds. I was getting light headed and even passed out once. I stopped one pressure med and now have no issues. It's also very important to take the med a half hour after the evening meal. That way it gives you the best night time relief and helps with day time light headed problems.

I have been taking it for several years without serious side effects. It has definitely helped with the strength of my stream. It is one of a set of tools that I use to manage my bladder issues.

That being said, there are number of similar drugs out there and while they all work about the same on a population level, different people respond better to different drugs in the same class. If it is not working for you, talk to your doctor about trying different drugs in the same class.

(Climbing up my soap box that says not a medical professional, just patient who has been through a lot).

This drug can be helpful, but it is just one possible tool. It is not the only tool. You may need to use other tools instead of this or in addition to this. Make sure that you push your doctor to find out what other tools might help.

Pelvic floor physical therapy is another tool that helped me a lot. It took months to get the full benefit, but it reduced my residual volumes a lot.

My point is, make sure that you explore all the tools that are out there and find the right combination of tools for your specific situation. And if doctor just says this pill or surgery, find a new doctor.

@RTmemories - I am using Hytrin, using Prostate massage, and considering Pelvic Floor PT. Could you describe your experiences with PFPT, either here, or if more appropriate in another thread, please?

I tried Flomax and didn’t care for the side effects… I had more of a spasmodic bladder but affected my prostate as well. In the end, pelvic floor therapy, while originally reluctant, was the best thing I ever could have done. No meds and still use the technics to offset any spasms/sudden urges.