My dad is 73 years old and has been in the hospital, rehab, nursi...

Read all Flomax side effects

Posted at 11:34 AM on Oct 22, 2008 by donnaraleigh, #35892

My dad is 73 years old and has been in the hospital, rehab, nursing care, back to hospital, currently back in rehab since August 3, 2008. He was on Flomax which he was taken off of the first week in August after arriving to the hospital with low blood pressure and leg weakness to the point of being unable to walk. He had been taking it for years so doctors did not think Flomax the cause. However, once they ret'd him on Flomax he was unable to hold his head up when sitting in wheel chair (drooling) and very unresponsive. He also vomited and just stared at it, unable to respond to try to clean himself up. They took him off Flomax with some improvement. (He could hold his head up and respond.) His weakness declined to the point that he can no longer pee/poop without a diaper, can't swallow, can't speak (due to weakened vocal chords), and has no energy. He has a feeding tube. To date, they have not been able to pin point what dad's problem is. I noticed that on October 10, 2008, they returned him to Flomax. He again is sitting in wheelchair with head hanging down. No energy to do rehab. I have requested they take him off Flomax and LEAVE him off. I don't trust this drug. I think his long-term use of this drug could be what's killing my him.

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Reply 11 months ago on Dec 12, 2008 by bloodstream7, #15221

Donna,

I am very sorry to hear about your father. I am a young man so I can't make a complete comparison to him but I do know that Flomax is not a kind drug. I am allergic to a component of Flomax which made me very sensitive to it. I have dealt with vision problems, muscle weakness and pains, headaches, panic attacks (which I have never had in my life), sinus problems, and so on. I have been off for 5 months now and I am still dealing with some of these issues, although they are going away slowly. I would recommend taking him off the Flomax and trying an alternative. Supposedly there are different meds that have far less side effects. Flomax contains a component called sulfonamides to which many people are allergic. I am allegic to "sulpha" meds and I attribute that to my terrible experiences with Flomax. When I had my many problems, I had a lot of tests done and nothing showed up. A lot of my doctors acted like I was crazy for thinking it was the Flomax but there is nothing else it could have been. Let's face it: doctors don't know everything, and they get paid enough by the drug companies not to know. I hope your dad is doing better. Find him a good doctor that actually cares about him. Hopefully, the rest of it will go away with time. Take care.

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Reply 8 months ago on Mar 03, 2009 by patiencemelissa, #17640

Hi, Donna.

My name is Patience and I, too, feel that this drug could possibly be giving my Dad adverse side effects. This is the question that I recently posed:

My Dad is 90 years of age and his doctor has him taking flomax twice a day: Once at bedtime and once in the morning. Several times when the nurses have given these pills, they have either crushed them with applesauce and fed to my Dad or had him swallow with applesauce at which point he has chewed the capsule. Could this be why he now has a problem swallowing??? (Not to mention other things...)

I am wondering how your Dad is now and what the outcome was? I also agree with the poster who responded to your question. Doctors are not always right and my dad was already misdiagnosed once in his life eight years ago and he pulled through that. Now I am concerned that once again my brother will not pay attention and that this may be the end for my dad. I am very concerned because he was doing okay up until just two days ago.

God bless, and I wish you and your family good health.

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