Tips for getting off Flomax (tamsulosin)?

For years I had taken Tamsolusin in hopes that I would not get up as often at night. Recently I concluded that even though I was taking Tamsolusin I was getting up at night as often as I was before I started taking it. Thus, I quit taking it and there have been no adverse results. Sometimes I get up every 2 hours once in awhile I don't get up for 4 hours. I expect I am off it permanently and that's okay with my physician.

I started taking Flomax after my third viewray mridian linac treatment as I was feeling more restricted. I finished my 5 treatments in February and got off the Flomax about a month ago. In April, I started taking it every other day, at night. No issues. My radiation oncologist told me to get off of it on my own schedule. She also said that if I wanted to take a second pill that it was ok but to check with her first.

I had Proton Beam Therapy in early Feb 2020. I was age 69, After my 2nd treatment I was having some trouble urinating. The radiation oncologist switched me from taking Finasteride (had been taking Finasteride since about age 60 for enlarged prostate) to flomax. I still take Flomax 2X a day, If I miss one dose its not immediately obvious. Hours later, though, I will find myself with more urgency and low volume emptying. I have trouble remembering to take my evening dose, so I have an alarm on my smart phone. When away from home I have also taken to having my dose in a very small container in my pants pocket.
I would say that anyone taking a nighttime dose should experiment with taking it around dinner time. When, for whatever reason, I take my evening dose late in the day I believe I am up more often through the night. It makers sense to me that if one is taking only a before bed dose of Flomax that sleep would be disrupted. Rather than the cause being Flomax, I’ll suggest that since the level of Flomax in the body is going to be lowest before the next dose that emptying the bladder completely is probably most impaired, too.

For myself, the prospect that I might need to take this for the rest of my life is OK. I believe that Flomax relaxes the muscles/tissue around the urethra allowing for more flow. Alternatives? – possible getting a TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) (rudely known as rotorooting). But a TURP can also bring possible short term or long term incontinence. I’ll opt out of that unless there is no better choice.

Also, FWIW there may be some long term possible consequences of incomplete emptying of the bladder – possible stretching the bladder and the possibility of losing the ability to activate the muscles that cause bladder emptying. (I believe labeled “neurogenic bladder).

‘Experimenting’ with getting off flomax may be ok, but it could be done with the cooperation of a competent urologist. A quick ultrasound after voiding can indicate how empty the bladder really is and how much urine is retained.

I started taking Flomax 5 days after I started proton beam therapy pain during urination. I tried going off about3 months after my treatment and the pain was still there. Kept using it for another year and tried it again and pain was gone. Haven't used it sense. Not sure if it's used for other reasons and might need long term use. For me, I believe it was for irritation of the muscles in the urethra from the radiation. Eventually the irritation went away. It's been over 5 years since my treatment and no discomfort. I get up 1 to 2 times a night.

I am 63. As with most any man my age, my prostrate is enlarged. My doctor prescribed tamsulosin for me so that I can empty my bladder more completely. In that way I should wake up fewer times at night. And, the time between when I go to sleep and when I wake up will be longer. It seems to be working. I highly value getting a good night's sleep. He also prescribed melatonin. In general, I would like to take fewer medications or none at all. I need ways to live without medications is a worthy goal. I am not sure that it is always possible.

I feel it is the cause of over 6 night time bathroom trips, but maybe I'm wrong.

I'm not having any problems with it. It's just that I don't want to be on a drug for the rest of my life, especially one that allows me to pee. I don't want to be traveling, or running out, etc. and find myself with an issue. I'm already taking one pill a day, though trying to get my doctor to let me off that one. I guess I'd rather deal with the problem with a more permanent solution if it is going to be a problem.

Why would you like to stop taking tamsulosin?

I've just started taking tamsulosin and it seems to be helping me to sleep better also. I started taking melatonin on the same day.

They generally tell you take it at night because a possible side effect is dizziness. Not a problem for me. The usual dosage instruction is to take if at least 30 minutes after a meal. There were four days when I thought I needed more. I took the double dose (after dr consult) and it worked pretty well. Even slept through the night. Now, after a month, I am down to my one trip a night (usually 2-3am) and one time slept through, which I haven't done in years.