BPH and Antihistamines
Posted , 12 users are following.
I have had BPH for 7- 10 years. I found this website about a year ago after a severe bout of prostatitis. My BPH symptoms magnified significantly along with the added symptoms of fairly severe retention and dreaded decreased libido. These symptoms remained up until two months ago to a slightly lesser degree until I got another bout of prostatitis. During that time I was reading up on BPH to see if there was something I could do to possibly decrease my chances of getting it again when I came across an article that said that those with BPH should not take antihistamines. I remembered when I was younger taking antihistamines for cold symptoms and they occasionally effected my urine stream but until I read this article it never dawned on me that antihistamines (Benadryl in my case) may increase my BPH symptoms. For the previous 18- 24 months I had been taking Benadryl on a fairly regular basis for insomnia. As soon a read this article I immediately stopped taking it. Fast forward to now and my retention is almost gone, I get up a max of 3 times a night as opposed to 4-6 times. My urine stream is definitely not like an 18 year old but now I actually urinate 200 to 250cc and more at times (not all the time). Before it was 50 to 150ccs and sometimes less. Don’t get me wrong I still have BPH but at this level I could live with it. I was at my wits end and was about to schedule PAE with Dr. Bagla but I am now reconsidering. If my symptoms remain as they are I will hold off. I could be wrong but I believe that stopping Benadryl may have caused the improvement. Of course I do have the fear that the symptoms will return to previous levels at anytime. Unfortunately the decrease libido is still with me, but it comes and goes.
I would like to hear comments/thoughts from this forum. Has anyone experienced anything like this?
0 likes, 18 replies
n2506 gary37907
Posted
have you tried go see pelvic floor muscle physiotherapist? my uro sent me... I usually got up every hour to urinate. after second week I only get up once or twice...
they also talk about prostate wand...
gary37907 n2506
Posted
no but i wil check into it.
hank1953 gary37907
Posted
How much antihistamine were you taking ? How did you solve your insomnia now without antihistamine ? I am also taking antihistamine for sleep because I could not find a solution without it. I've tried mirtapazine but it did not work for me. I've read and had personal experience that antihistamine worsens urinary retention. However, to me, a good night sleep is more important.
gary37907 hank1953
Posted
was taking about benedryl 25 mg at bedtime. now take tryptophan or melatonin. TRYPTOPHANE works very well.
uncklefester gary37907
Posted
TRYPTOPHANE isn't the that the chemical in turkey that makes us fall asleep during the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day?
richp21 uncklefester
Posted
hi unc,
i thought so too, but maybe not. From LIVESCIENCE on the web:
Contrary to popular belief, eating turkey isn't the main reason you feel sleepy after a Thanksgiving feast.
The oft-repeated turkey myth stems from the fact that turkey contains the amino acid tryptophan, which forms the basis of brain chemicals that make people tired. But turkey isn't any more sleep-inducing than other foods. In fact, consuming large amounts of carbohydrates and alcohol may be the real cause of a post-Thanksgiving-meal snooze, experts say.
hank1953 gary37907
Posted
I am taking 25 mg of diphenhydramine. I have tried melatonin and tryptophan before but decided to stay with antihistamine because it works better, is cheaper, and also helps my seasonal allergies.
rob78162 gary37907
Posted
No question that antihistimines like Benadryl make it harder to urinate. It prevents muscles in the prostate and bladder neck from relaxing to allow urine to flow freely. Here is the warning that is written on the box: Ask a doctor before use if you have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland.
I get a quarterly infusion for my lymphoma (blood cancer) and they normally pre-medicate with Bendaryl in the vein but I told my oncologist that I can't pee well afterwards so we skip that part.
Rob
frank27027 gary37907
Posted
Hi , Were you in complete urine retention? no natural void?
frank,
gary37907 frank27027
Posted
No but very close at times.
keith42667 gary37907
Posted
This is another reason why I feel comfortable with doing cic for now. I've always had seasonal allergies and yes, I have noticed at times that the antihistimines can cause my stream to be smaller. I take one of those small antihistimine tabs before bed sometimes when my nose is iching or other allergy symptoms and it does help me sleep; a lot of it I think is the relief from the itchy nose and eyes etc. I don't worry about retention because the cic makes it irrelevant. Luckily I don't have to take a combination of decongenstant also because it will make me jittery like I drank coffee. I guess I'm blessed because just one of those tabs or capsules of antihistamine will last me for 6 hours or so. After that my allergies seem to settle down later at night.
I kind of attributed the lack of urination on these pills to something like a dehydration effect; my thinking was that they sort of dry you out but that really makes little sense.
derek76 keith42667
Posted
All products containing antihistamine should have a warning about urine retention. We have had several posters on this Forum who went into complete retention after taking them. Even after having had my two prostate procedures I refuse to take them just in case.
Guest derek76
Posted
i would disagree with that statement. i have BPH and have been taking Fexofenadine 180mg for many years without any issues with urinary retention. i agree there are many antihistamine meds that can cause retention but not all of them.
hank1953 Guest
Posted
You're right. I just looked it up. Fexofenadine is not anticholinergic therefore does not cause urinary retention. It's good to know. Thanks.
derek76 Guest
Posted
Perhaps not but I never took a chance on them. We have had posts on here from men who never had a retention problem until taking one.