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Rapaflo, Flomax and related drugs. Serious side-effects that are permanent.

Posted , 10 users are following.

Light1
Light1

Hi All,

Have been on Rapaflo since mid-August when I ended up in the ER with acute urinary retention and was awarded a Foley for a solid week. I am now self-cathing (CIC) with good results. However, in my research, I discovered that these medications cause "Floppy Iris Syndrome" in almost every patient after only a few doses, and it is irreversible and permanent. What this means is that if you ever have to have cataract surgery, it becomes much more difficult for the surgeon (by the way, you must tell them about your history with the drug). They have to put a retainer ring in the eye during surgery to keep the iris from being vacuumed up during the procedure. In 10% of these cases, even if the surgery is successful, the patient ends up with a misshapen pupil that may be out of round, or elongated, etc. It is a distinct cosmetic blemish which is, once again, permanent. I am getting off this drug immediately even though my opthalmologist says the "horse is out of the barn". Maybe the Uros don't really understand this, or maybe they simply think it's not worth mentioning, however I think it is criminal to prescribe this stuff without full disclosure.

 

0 likes, 22 replies

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  • jimjames
    jimjames Light1

    Posted

    They tend to tell you about side effects after the fact. Are you still on any of those drugs? Obviously they didn't  work all that well or you would not have gone into acute urinary retention.  In any event,  now that you're self cathing, no reason for them now.

    Jim

    • Light1
      Light1 jimjames

      Posted

      Hi Jim, Took myself off it gradually over the last few days. Took my last dose yesterday. Will not be going back on it. Never filled the Avodart prescription at all. I actually was prescribed the drugs as a result of going into urinary retention shortly after a very stressful cross-country trip with 2 transcon flights. And yes, now that I do CIC, I feel more confident in my ability to handle things and stay out of the ER! Thanks!
  • kenneth1955
    kenneth1955 Light1

    Posted

    I was on them for a month.  No one said a thing about that one   Found out about retro on my own. Did not tell me about that one either  I thought that was bad.  Get off it as soon as you can  Take care  Ken
    • Light1
      Light1 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Thanks Ken. Yes, the retro is bad too, but I think that goes away after a while. Are you back to normal yet? I'm off the Rapaflo now and won't be going back.

       

    • Light1
      Light1 kenneth1955

      Posted

      Thanks Ken. I'm off it completely now, as of 2 days ago. The constant cramps I had in my calves are starting to go away!

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 Light1

      Posted

      I'm glad for you.  I hope things get better  Ken

  • uncklefester
    uncklefester Light1

    Posted

    Is rapaflo the only drug that does this? Seems like a class action would follow if this is a side effect that almost 100%. rapaflo website only mentions may affect cataract surgery. I hate taking drugs
    • uncklefester
      uncklefester

      Posted

      Looks like Tamsulosin may cause problems also $hit now I really hate taking drugs
    • Light1
      Light1 uncklefester

      Posted

      Hi Unclefester, yes seems to be common across this class of drugs, including Flomax, Tamsulosin, etc. Yes, I'm not big on taking drugs either. I'm trying the herbal route now.

  • Waffalobill
    Waffalobill Light1

    Posted

    Seems to be a pretty serious side effect to keep a secret.
    • mal7896
      mal7896 Waffalobill

      Posted

      I've heard that as long as surgeon knows beforehand you are taking tamuloson or alfusozin all will be OK

    • Light1
      Light1 mal7896

      Posted

      Hi Waffalobill, A matter of perspective. My opthalmologist told me yesterday (and she does lots of this surgery) that it makes the surgery significantly more difficult and the results less predictable. They need to place a retractor ring in the eye during surgery to hold the iris back out of the way of the vacuum that they use to suction out the cataract. This is something that is usually done automatically by the muscles of the eye if they have not been weakened by these drugs. According to her, in about 10% of the cases, the retractor damages the pupil and you end up with a pupil that is no longer round and evenly shaped. So you may end up Ok, but maybe not.
  • uncklefester
    uncklefester Light1

    Posted

    Terrific:

    These findings confirm the opinions of members of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). In the 2008 member survey, 90 percent of respondents who had sufficient experience believed that IFIS was more common with tamsulosin than with nonselective alpha-1 antagonists.8

    • kenneth1955
      kenneth1955 uncklefester

      Posted

      Some like doctors are not talking to each other.  That why we have to check for ourselves  Ken
    • uncklefester
      uncklefester kenneth1955

      Posted

      No doubt. Its sad its come to this. I knew I should have pushed for daily cialis instead of flomax cool

    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill kenneth1955

      Posted

      I make sure all my docs are up on stuff. Noone talks to anyone and most to lazy to read your file. Had that issue with a few docs. Half read a file. Had one do it today. Had a sore throat. Asked me when last time was I was checked for strep. I said about 15 minutes ago. Nurse swabed me when I told her it felt raw.
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