Tamsulosin and Tiredness: What Users Say

• SRW...
• February 14, 2020

Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "My last post was two months ago, when I had been tapering off the Flomax and going with a supplement. I am shocked that I'm doing so well. I started the Flomax out of desperation. I had to plan my days around bathrooms. Even then I couldn't always go. It was the worst at night, often having to get in the shower just to get a stream started. Long car trips were out of the question. Air travel made me very nervous. Flomax worked, but the side effects were awful. Tired, low libido, congestion, runny nose. Today, two months free of it, I have just a few moments of hesitation (when getting up from sleeping) and a short walk to and from the kitchen usually cures that. I even can have a coffee daily without urgency. I really never believed supplements work, but this one does. It is made with Saw Palmetto, Stinging Nettle, Pumpkin Seed Oil, and Lycopene. I urge you to experiment if you can't stand Flomax's side effects."

• jpo...
• May 17, 2016

Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Flomax works great and quickly too, but it sure makes me feel bad. I find myself skipping days and those days I feel much better. When I take it, I feel tired, slow, and light-headed... like I'm in a bit of a fog. I also notice that my vision is very much blurred when I take this drug. It takes hours after waking for my vision to be somewhat clearer. I'm supposed to take it twice a day, but once a day is more than sufficient. There doesn't seem to be a lower dosage in a capsule, so I open them and dump some of it out. It's pretty inexpensive so that's not a problem."

• SRW...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 11, 2019

Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I was on this drug Flomax for nine months, and although it worked very well, I couldn't stand the side effects. Tired, stuffy, short of breath. I didn't have ejaculation problems after I got used to it. But I decided I'd had enough and dared to taper off it. First every other day, then once every three days. Symptoms returned, but not as bad as I had anticipated. Occasional trouble starting and weak stream, but I was getting by. It's been two weeks without it. I started a natural supplement at the same time, which I take twice a day. I bought a three-month supply, and it seems it's helping me transition off the Flomax. Energy is returning, congestion is going away, and getting by pretty well. I really can't recommend this drug unless it is absolutely necessary. It's just not worth feeling like rubbish all the time."

• tke...
• February 26, 2008

Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Flomax (Tamsulosin hydrochloride) helped me to urinate normally. It did make me feel very tired and weak. I was taking one 0.4 mg a day. I started taking it with breakfast, but switched to taking it after dinner. That helped with most of the tiredness."

• zyp...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 1, 2020

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I am 57 years old and have been on Tamsulosin for about 4 years. I had recurring urination problems for a couple of years after a prolonged bad bout with prostatitis. I ended up with a blockage that required a catheter for a couple of weeks (not the first time). My urologist put me on this 'stuff', and yes, I am now Niagara Falls in the can, but the side effects were and are off the charts and have gotten progressively worse over time. Constant dizziness, no energy, bad balance, muscle and joint aches, breathing and sinus problems (runny nose, sneezing, pain, nasal drip), and recently, I have developed a cough and have to clear my throat constantly. I'm done! Tapering off. I will talk to my urologist about other options. At this point, the catheter looks good! LOL. This drug does work well, but the 'price' of the side effects is just too high for me. Good luck!!"

• pee...
• August 7, 2011

Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I have been taking Flomax for a month for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. I had been getting up to urinate 2 or 3 times a night, suffering from severe pain during urination. Since starting Flomax, I have found myself dizzy if getting up quickly, blurred vision, decreased sex drive with abnormal ejaculate. I have lower back pain. I feel weaker and tired all the time. On the upside, I can go all night with no need to get up to urinate, and the pain while urinating is 50 percent less."

• Upa...
• April 8, 2009

Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I have been using Flomax for two years. It keeps me going but I still get up at least three times a night. Flow is not normal, light stream. My PSA is under 2.0 and always has been. I'm tired, sore, and not getting any better. I have not had sex for a long time. I'm going to try a new drug."

• Yog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2018

Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I have frequent urination at night. Dr. prescribed Flomax. I took my first pill last evening, 30 minutes after dinner. Felt nauseous in the morning. Got up for work and nearly passed out in the shower. Flopped on the bed, wrapped in a towel. Had a cold sweat. My BP must have dropped. I did not go to work today and have been lethargic all day. I am not taking Flomax ever again."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2016

Tamsulosin for Urinary Tract Stones "Female, age 35, with a history of kidney stones. Went to the ER for kidney stone pain on a Friday, was given a shot of Flomax and a prescription to take daily. Saw urologist and received a CAT scan on Monday - one 5mm kidney stone in the ureter and two more (one in each kidney) to come. On day six of Flomax and going to stop taking it - feeling very dizzy, nauseous, tired with chills/low fever at night. Still haven't passed the stone but can't take these side effects. Doctor said I can go back on Flomax anytime if my kidney stone pain comes back and I need it to help pass this stone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2012

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Tamsulosin very quickly improved the flow of urine, and meant my night wasn't constantly interrupted. Great! But it has reduced libido and intensity of sexual pleasure. Above all, it has left me feeling very tired - even though I take it in the early evening."

• sol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2020

Tamsulosin for Urinary Tract Stones "I am a 54 yr old, active but overweight male. After 12 days on Flomax, I passed a 0.6 mm stone, pain and incident free. About two weeks before starting the Flomax, I presented to ED in extreme pain after a few hours of discomfort and nausea. I took an anti-nausea drug followed by 12.5 mg of Endone, which calmed me down enough for some sleep. For the next week, I took Ibuprofen to deal with discomfort I was having, and after 10 days, a CT scan showed the above stone had made its way to the entrance of the bladder. At this point, I stopped feeling discomfort. I began taking a daily tablet of 400 mcg and experienced very few side effects (a little tiredness). On the morning of the 12th day, after only the slightest sensation of ‘progress,’ I heard a tinkle in the toilet bowl, and sure enough, there was the stone. I have sent it off to pathology but no word back yet."

• Loo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2018

Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I took this for about three weeks for BPH. After nearly passing out the second time after standing up, I decided it wasn't worth it. I also had nausea and lethargy. It did help somewhat with urine flow, but the side effects caused me to stop."

• Awe...
• May 24, 2014

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "First dose gave me increased flow and great relief from that obnoxious 'never quite empty' feeling and frequency, urgency, and dribbling that I had lived with for the past 5 years or so. I just hope I can keep taking it, as I am experiencing side effects, including feeling very lightheaded - similar to being over the legal limit on alcohol! I have also had muscle weakness and a very lethargic feeling. Had some nausea, but I am not sure if that was from the medicine or from my diverticulitis. Interesting that the description says it is intended to relax the muscles of the bladder neck and prostate. I also gained about an inch when flaccid, and 'the boys' seem to be hanging lower, too. Time will tell if I can keep taking this."

• Ren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2024

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I’m 69. Started taking the 0.4mg dose 3 weeks ago and it is definitely helping with both improved flow and lowered the frequency and horrible urges. Have now got down to just 1 or 2 nighttime pees instead of 3 or 4 before. Drug has definitely also improved erectile function - probably about as much as Cialis 2.5mg daily. Prostate is 60cc so quite enlarged but at least a detailed MRI scan shows no cancer. Downsides are unable to orgasm most of the time but I can put up with that - at least so far. Early problems when taking the drug were tiredness and slightly aching legs and arms. It was only occasional and for the first week or so and got over that by taking paracetamol. All in all, I’d rate this drug 9/10."

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 18, 2013

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Really started a strong stream with no dribbling after a week. Get dizzy, tired most of the day, no erection without Cialis, retrograde ejaculation (climax feeling is good), and have had draining sinuses for the year I have taken Flomax. Time to see if there is something else or have a TURP."

• Lit...
• November 25, 2015

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Taken for only a week now, stream better, quantity of urine better, still get up during the night 2 maybe 3 times, but this is better than every 30 mins. Side effects: stuffy nose, bad wind, blurred vision, tiredness, zero ejaculation (however, feeling is the same). Erection not quite as erect as before, so mainly sexual (and as I'm only 42, this may be a deal breaker). Drug works, but side effects may overrule use!! Shame."

• dta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2019

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "This drug was prescribed by my doctor, and I took it every night at bedtime for 3 months. I would wake up and feel short of breath almost every night, quite alarming. In the morning, I felt tired and had no energy. My sex life was gone, it did help some with urinating. After 3 months, I had enough and quit taking it. The good news is I no longer wake up out of breath, and I feel like my old self in the morning, and my sex life is back to normal! This drug is not worth it. I take natural supplements now, and I don't see any difference in urinating than I did before, but without the side effects."

• dta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2019

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "This drug was prescribed by my doctor, and I took it every night at bedtime for 3 months. I would wake up and feel short of breath almost every night, quite alarming. In the morning, I felt tired and had no energy. My sex life was gone, it did help some with urinating. After 3 months, I had enough and quit taking it. The good news is I no longer wake up out of breath, and I feel like my old self in the morning, and my sex life is back to normal! This drug is not worth it. I take natural supplements now, and I don't see any difference in urinating than I did before, but without the side effects."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2019

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I took Flomax for 2-3 months for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It made me very fatigued and tired all the time. After the second month, my penis began to curve a little, then, literally overnight, I ended up with a severe curve and Peyronie's disease. I highly suggest leaving this medication alone."

• Har...
• September 10, 2009

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "My doctor started me on tamsulosin one week ago. Some improvement after 2 or 3 days, but I am experiencing side effects. The first is about sex life as I have no ejaculation (later I found that it is actually a 'retrograde ejaculation'). This is a very uncomfortable feeling, as you feel that sperm remains somewhere inside you (later I found by reading that it goes in the bladder). The second side effect is feeling a bit weak and tired all day long. I do not think I can endure this drug for the rest of my life, therefore I will soon see my doctor for other alternatives, hoping they exist."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2017

For Urinary Frequency "24-year-old, male, UK. Normally, I would go every hour, even when drinking very small amounts of water or drinks. I took this medication for only two weeks. I noticed right away I would go less often to the toilet, and it was much easier to dispense the urine. Unfortunately, I had to stop taking this as the medication's side effects outweighed the benefits. I found that I would have incredibly intense mood swings, aggression, feel clumsy and dizzy all the time, blurry vision, memory problems or mind blanks, runny nose, weakness, tiredness. I am now trying Betmiga. Let's see."

• joe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 4, 2015

For Urinary Frequency "I was prescribed this crap almost 18 months ago, and it has nearly killed me. Bad sleep to start with, tired all the time, dizzy, hard to breathe, and I couldn't do anything without gasping. I stopped this 3 days ago, and it's a friggin miracle. I feel great, I can breathe, can walk without gasping, and had a good sleep last night. Well, yes, it could be something else. ---I have been to a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, and 3 more, and they didn't see the relationship. Crap, I even had an angiogram after 2 stents were done. Last angio said no need for a stent, and after that, I still felt terrible with symptoms above. I stopped tamsulosin and feel great. What a friggin joke, medicine."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 29, 2019

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Initially, the drug tamsulosin was a godsend for BPD. Relieved my symptoms immediately. But the side effects are numerous: lightheaded, dizzy, tired, and lethargic. Sometimes, I am nauseated in the mornings. Retrograde ejaculation occurs, but not often - it seems I can control that issue. Generally, I feel pretty miserable most days. I also have congestion in my sinuses that also affects my ears. So, I will discuss this with my urologist and try to arrange for a button TURP. I am on no other meds, don't have BP issues - I felt very healthy until this regimen began."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 29, 2019

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Initially, the drug tamsulosin was a godsend for BPD. Relieved my symptoms immediately. But the side effects are numerous: lightheaded, dizzy, tired, and lethargic. Sometimes, I am nauseated in the mornings. Retrograde ejaculation occurs, but not often - it seems I can control that issue. Generally, I feel pretty miserable most days. I also have congestion in my sinuses that also affects my ears. So, I will discuss this with my urologist and try to arrange for a button TURP. I am on no other meds, don't have BP issues - I felt very healthy until this regimen began."

• Bno...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2017

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "The urine flow improved slightly, but the worst thing that occurred was my heart racing and blood pressure rise after having a hot shower at bedtime. Usually, my BP is around 120/80, pulse 55. When this occurs, it was 158/103, pulse 146. Also, I get a fluttering sensation in my heartbeat, which is irregular. This does not happen every night, but it has only occurred since taking tamsulosin for the last 2 months, also feeling tired and lethargic."