Tips for getting off Flomax (tamsulosin)?

Posted by cstrutt52 @cstrutt52, May 26, 2023

It's been 25 days since my second HDR session. I still take on capsule (0.4 mg) of tamsulosin every night. By the next evening, I am starting to see a slow stream. I don't want to be on this drug forever. Maybe start taking it every other day? Maybe later and later each day? Anyone with experience stopping the drug? Or is it just normal to starting seeing slower streams at night? I probably am starting to drink less as the evening progresses.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

jime51 | @jime51 | Oct 13, 2025

I took Tamsulosin, Terazosin, and Alfuzosin. They didn't improve my nighttime urinary frequency, so I have stopped without ill effects. Prior to discontinuing, I was back to one .4mg Tamsulosin daily.

daveinflorida | @daveinflorida | Oct 14, 2025

About half way through my 25 proton therapy treatment started having trouble peeing, especially at night. My RO didn't know why it would be a problem at night by not during the day, but prescribed tamsulosin, ay first one a day but that didn't do much, but two took care of the problem. A couple weeks after therapy ended I cut back to one a day with no issues. After a couple weeks I forgot one morning and by evening was having trouble, so I'll be continuing with one for a while more. I may try to get off eventually but it's not that big a deal.

lennyo | @lennyo | Feb 27 6:05am

In reply to @fatherofstickyrice "Why would you like to stop taking tamsulosin?" + (show)

@fatherofstickyrice
I read that taking tamsulosin causes problems with ejaculation. I have this problem.

Father of sticky rice | @fatherofstickyrice | Feb 27 8:18am

In reply to @lennyo "@fatherofstickyrice I read that taking tamsulosin causes problems with ejaculation. I have this problem." + (show)

@lennyo I stopped taking tamsulosin. I could not give you a good response either way.

jim18 | @jim18 | Feb 28 10:35am

You are seeing the effects of Tamsulosin wearing off. Since BPH develops slowly you may not have realized how weak the stream had been before radiation. I could barely get anything out during radiation and 2 tamsulosin restored the flow. After radiation I went down to 1 and stream was much better than before radiation, but it does not look like I can stop without accepting a much weaker stream. You can taper off of by taking half doses (capsules are easy to break open), extending the time between doses, or just going cold turkey and accepting the weaker stream.

brianjarvis | @brianjarvis | Feb 28 12:24pm

In reply to @daveinflorida "About half way through my 25 proton therapy treatment started having trouble peeing, especially at night...." + (show)

@daveinflorida I only had 1 day of adverse side-effects during my 28 sessions of proton beam radiation treatments (during April-May 2021). On the 3rd day of treatment, I had urinary issues. My RO told me that with some men there’s an inflammatory response to the radiation, and if that inflammation is near the urethra can cause the issues that I was experiencing. He recommended that I take 2 Tamsulosin/day for the remainder of the treatments. Everything cleared up by the next day.

blobo | @blobo | Mar 10 5:19pm

I’ve been on tamsulosin for 2 -3 months now for frequent urination at night and weak stream. Hasn’t completely fixed either but has definitely lessened ejaculate. If I stop talking it will normal ejaculation return?

Jake | @jakedduck1 | Mar 10 6:17pm

@blobo
Ejaculation usually normalizes after the medication is stopped.
Improvement is noted within days to weeks.
I'm on it too along with Finasteride. I don't
know if you're on this as well, but it can cause, although rare, ejaculation issues for months, years and possibly permanently.
Take care,
Jake