BPH Options

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iazona1

Confused about dryer sheets
Joined
Jan 8, 2007
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BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, affects lots of us as we get older. Basically it is described as enlarged prostrate glands. As we age anybody affected with BPH knows the common symptoms and problems. Poor stream, up many times to urinate during the night, starting and stopping several times during going number one, and trouble emptying your bladder.

I am 61 and have been dealing with this for about 7 or 8 years. I have tried several different vitamin supplements that are possibly supposed to help to no avail. Currently taking highest dose of Finasteride and flomax (Tamsulosin). Have definitely helped but as with many drugs they seem to becoming less affective as time goes on.

Running out of drug options and wondering about some of the success people have had with medical procedures. Or.....any supplements or special things that have helped.

Thanks
 
I've had no problem with 1 Flomax every other day, so I guess I'm lucky! But I'm also taking Avodart (dutasteride), which is supposed to (and did) shrink the prostate. Maybe that combo would help. It went off patent a few years ago, so the price is reasonable. I've been stable with this setup for 10 years at least.

The other thing that makes a noticeable difference is having sex. Almost better than Flomax and lasts about a week.
 
Animorph said:
I've had no problem with 1 Flomax every other day, so I guess I'm lucky! But I'm also taking Avodart (dutasteride), which is supposed to (and did) shrink the prostate. Maybe that combo would help. It went off patent a few years ago, so the price is reasonable. I've been stable with this setup for 10 years at least.

The other thing that makes a noticeable difference is having sex. Almost better than Flomax and lasts about a week.
Click to expand...

I think my DW might complain if sex lasts about a week :LOL::LOL::LOL:
 
Tadalafil (Cialis) has also been shown to improve BPH symptoms. Again, the significant other might not be happy about the side effects.
 
MRG said:
Search around there's probably more I knew that one.
Click to expand...
MRG - did you have the urolift performed? How was it? Effective? Side effects?
Thanks. I am now at a point I need to address my BPH and prefer not to be on meds for life. Appreciate your perspective. Thanks
 
I looked into the urolift and the Rezum treatment. Ultimately I had the green light laser treatment. Nobody around here does the Rezum and doc didn't recommend the urolift for my case.

I had it done last November and it was about three months to get back to normal. I'm now off of the flomax and it doesn't take me five minutes to pee anymore!
 
I went old school and had the traditional TURP. Scary to think about, but it went much better than I expected. All recovered within a few weeks, and no more restrictions (back to running and working out) within two months. To say I'm delighted with the results would be an understatement.
 
kannon said:
MRG - did you have the urolift performed? How was it? Effective? Side effects?
Thanks. I am now at a point I need to address my BPH and prefer not to be on meds for life. Appreciate your perspective. Thanks
Click to expand...
Yes, its a good solution. No adverse effects.
 
Doc put me on Flomax (generic) in Feb and a month later on Finasteride. I'm 5 months in on the Finasteride and I have had several nights lately that I never had to get up to pee. Where before I was up 3 or more times a night.
So I'm wondering, has anyone stopped taking Finasteride because it did it's job?
How many months did you take it?
I see conflicting evidence about what happens when you stop.
One source, "The effect on the prostate will only last as long as the medicine is used. When it is stopped, the prostate begins to grow again within a few months."

[FONT=&quot]Another source,
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]"Studies have shown that the reduction in prostate size is sustained for five years following a course of Finasteride treatment. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]They also note that the majority of the benefits and effects of Finasteride on prostate size will be achieved within six months."[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If I can stop and not take it for 5 years, that's a deal![/FONT]
I'm reading that you should taper off of Flomax and keep track of your BP especially if you are on a BP med. I pretty much stopped my BP med because after starting flomax, my BP went to low and I would get light headed. I monitor my BP if it gets into the 130s, I'll take 1/2 pill, (my normal dose) I have taken a 1/4 pill.
 
Worked the way it was supposed to when prescribed to me. Tried to quit to see how long it would take to go back to going all the time and poor stream. About 5 or six weeks and back to all the BPH symptoms getting worse again. Got back on it and things are better again. Very clear changes when taking it or not.
 
I'm on Tamsulosin (Flomax) and Dutasteride (Avodart). With this combo I use one Tamsulosin every two days and everything is great. I can adjust the dose if needed. My prostate is a nice normal size. However the doc says I have to continue taking both forever.
 
Well those two anecdotes don't sound two promising. I'll need to do my own test, but it will be a few months and I'll check with my doc for his recommendation.
I was up once at 2:20 last night.
 
I've been taking Finasteride for a couple of years. Last year I stopped taking it to see what happens. Within 2 weeks I could tell a difference and started back up.
 
Be careful with the Flomax. I had a major fainting spell and ended up in the hospital over a weekend. Was caused by stopping and restarting the Flomax. I no longer take the Flomax.
 
I've been on Finasteride and Tamsulosin since March, it has improved BPH considerably. Although I still get up twice a night, it is easy to urinate.
I recently called to get a cholesterol med prescription refilled and was told, doc will give you 30 days, but then you need to have blood tests and an appointment. I picked up the blood test form and there are 21 lines of blood tests that I'm supposed to get. Usually it's more like 6. The extra tests seem to be hormone relate, testosterone, estrogen, estradiol, along with Vit D and zinc for the Covid thing.
Did anyone else get a barrage of tests after going on these BPH meds?
 
The tamsulosin is not the culprit here. The Finesteride is. Finesteride works by "screwing with" your hormones. Any time a drug does that it could have farther reaching repercussions down the line so they need to keep out in front of things and watch what's going on under the hood,

Time2 said:
I've been on Finasteride and Tamsulosin since March, it has improved BPH considerably. Although I still get up twice a night, it is easy to urinate.
I recently called to get a cholesterol med prescription refilled and was told, doc will give you 30 days, but then you need to have blood tests and an appointment. I picked up the blood test form and there are 21 lines of blood tests that I'm supposed to get. Usually it's more like 6. The extra tests seem to be hormone relate, testosterone, estrogen, estradiol, along with Vit D and zinc for the Covid thing.
Did anyone else get a barrage of tests after going on these BPH meds?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
razztazz said:
The tamsulosin is not the culprit here. The Finesteride is. Finesteride works by "screwing with" your hormones. Any time a drug does that it could have farther reaching repercussions down the line so they need to keep out in front of things and watch what's going on under the hood,
Click to expand...


Yep, I read up on Finasteride, big effects. I didn't know it was used for hair loss. I haven't seen any effect.
 
DH has been taking OTC Saw Palmetto 160mg for the past couple of years.
So far, it has helped enough to not need prescriptions, but eventually, he probably will.
 
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