Request to Share Experience with Using Rapaflow (Silodosin)
Posted , 11 users are following.
I would very much appreciate it if anyone who is on Rapaflo (Silodosin) would provide some comments on how well the drug works for them and particularly comments on side effects. If you have taken other alpha blockers such as tamsulosin and alfuzosin, comments on how those worked as well as side effects relative to Rapaflo would also be very appreciated.
I've been taking alfuzosin for about 18 months but now suspect that it is no longer working as well as before. Perhaps I should also consider switching to a PDE5I like Cialis.
0 likes, 16 replies
Motoman rdemyan
Posted
It has been 4-5 years, but gave me RE like Flomax, and low libido. At that time, I switched to Flomax, and it didn't give me RE, it does now, however. Don't know why.
rdemyan Motoman
Posted
Thanks.
arlington rdemyan
Posted
Of the 3 or 4 alpha blockers I've taken, Rapaflo has been the best. (I would take Alfuzosin due to side effect profile; however, I had a bad reaction to it - mostly breathing/hives related).
Cialis didn't help/
Finasteride/Dutasteride were horrible.
Best of luck!
rdemyan arlington
Posted
Thanks for that info.
mike588 rdemyan
Posted
My Urologist said Rapaflo was stronger, I think it is more expensive than Flomax. I took if for a few days and it definitely causes RE and I didn't feel good in general, but had I persisted maybe that would have passed. You might consider taking Tamsulosin or Alfuzosin together with Cialis I was told it's safe to do that - at least Tamsulosin + Cialis of course you should ask your Urologist.
rdemyan mike588
Posted
When I first started taking alpha blockers (AB), I was taking an AB with Cialis for a couple of weeks. I don't recall if the AB was Flomax or alfuzosin. I switched to alfuzosin pretty quickly once I learned that Flomax is an older AB that is not as selective. Studies have implicated Flomax in floppy iris syndrome, which can be a problem during cataract surgery.
I'll talk with my uro and maybe add it in. In principle, I hate taking pills, but I'm just not ready for a procedure and so far dutasteride/alfuzosin have done a pretty good job of mitigating my symptoms. But lately, the symptoms seem to be increasing.
mike588 rdemyan
Posted
An eye surgeon told me if they know about the floppy eye before the surgery they have ways to work around it. Of course better not to have it.
By not having surgery you will eventually damage the bladder because the drugs not effective and you'll be pushing and straining to be able to pee. Alfuzosin for me lowered blood pressure so much I couldn't play soccer so I weighed the side effects of Tamsulosin vs having a healthy heart and the heart won.
rdemyan mike588
Posted
Before starting dutasteride/alfuzosin in August of 2018 I kept records of my daily urinations. I have almost a year's worth of data (and I even have month's worth of data from back in 2012). I also kept records for over a year after starting the drug combination. Average increase in amount urinated per trip during the daytime is about 40 to 50 mL. I looked back at the data from 2013 and it appears that I am urinating now similarly to 2013. I even recently had a daytime urination that was greater than 300 mL, which has never happened even when I kept records back in 2013. Nightime frequency still hovers around 2 times per night - but since I'm urinating 300 to 400 mL per time at night, I don't think this is so much a function of obstruction as nightime kidney production of urine. But I think my results would seem to show that the drugs have helped.
But it's not unusual for the body to become used to a particular drug/chemical and it's effectiveness becomes less over time. I don't think I am in bad shape, just want to get some info on Rapaflo. I hardly ever see it mentioned in posts on this forum. I'm not keen to go on flomax because it is not as selective as the newer alpha blockers.
PAE is something I'm considering, but I have some concerns about radiation exposure and what happens if they cut off blood supply by mistake to the bladder and other nearby structures. I need to do more research, but it will probably be the next step. I won't even consider Urolift anymore.
Dogcajunatyahoo rdemyan
Posted
69yrOld BPH; Had taken flomax only as needed once/twice a week - not regular- SE stuff nose and RE; 6/2019 ER w retention n left w catheter;Started flomax daily - after 7 days got sinustis infection; stopped n began 8mg silodosin daily; Only SE is RE - no stuffy nose n no sinus infections; Works well for me
rdemyan Dogcajunatyahoo
Posted
Thanks, Dogcajunatyahoo. Stuffy nose is currently an issue for me, so interesting to hear that Rapaflo has not caused that problem for you.
carl91171 rdemyan
Posted
I had better results with Rapaflo than Flowmax. Other than RE I have no negative side effects. Stop taking it and RE goes away. It's also a quick acting drug and also comes in 4 mg as well as 8 mg strengths. RE is more pronounced with the 8 mg strength. Sometimes I will take it every other day if I'm going to be home. Flomax made me feel sick. Good luck. Don't even think about taking finastride. Side effects are not reversible.
rdemyan carl91171
Posted
Hi Carl: Thanks for the info.
I've been taking dutasteride for 18 months and it appears to be doing what it was designed to do. I did have some major sexual side effects at first. However, from my research it looks like a major key is to keep estrogen in check. I've been doing that and now my libido is back, albeit not as strong as prior to taking dutasteride. The reduction in prostate size has helped significantly and I no longer feel pain in my pelvic floor. Having said that, I'll probably need a procedure in the future, but this is buying me time.
jim81578 rdemyan
Posted
I've taken flomax and will as Rapaflo. Flomax as fas as side effects was best for me. Rapaflo worked very well for me but had bad side effects. I also took finesteride which seemed to be the worst as far as libido.. Could be your bph is getting worse and the pills are less effective. Thats how it went for me anyways. I had fla done and am off all drugs.
rdemyan jim81578
Posted
Yeah, a procedure might be a future event for me, perhaps sooner than I would like.
Truthmatters rdemyan
Posted
Maybe it's time to take the next step. Drugs at best seem to slow down the advance of BPH, often at some cost with their side effects, but are rarely a long term solution. Start looking at the least invasive methods such as PAE. It's my view that delaying physical intervention could inhibit your bladder function to the point it doesn't ever properly recover. Meaning leaving intervention for too long will compromise their overall effectiveness.