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What Causes Dizziness Inspite Of Being On Tamsulosin For Prostate Cancer?

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Posted on Wed, 4 Mar 2015
Question: I have been taking .4 mg of Tamsulosin and .5 mg of Avodart since September 2008 for BPH. I do not have prostate cancer. Since February, 2014 I have been noticeably dizzy (not vertigo) and more fatigued. I take no other medications except Lipitor. I am 65 years old. A brain MRI showed no evidence of acoustic neuroma and no evidence of any other brain abnormality. Before I begin more medical tests such as a VNG balance test or an MRA, is it possible that Tamsulosin and/or Avodart could, after having no adverse effect for six years, now be the cause of dizziness. Neither my urologist nor urologists consulting for the XXXXXXX Urological Association are aware of either Tamsulosin and/or Avodart causing dizziness and/or fatigue after no adverse effect from either or both of these drugs for over six years. Two ENT doctors I saw, however, believe that one or both of these drugs could, in theory, cause dizziness and heavy headedness after six years of use. However, neither physician could site any medical literature indicating the delayed onset of adverse effects from either or both of these drugs except for the recent and well known controversy over the use of dutasteride and possible increased risk of high grade prostate cancer.
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Answered by Dr. V. Sasanka (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
can stop tamsulosin and see if giddiness reduces

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
A very simple way of checking if your giddiness is due to prostate medications is by stopping them and seeing if the giddiness disappears. It is extremely unlikely that avodart is the cause of giddiness, but tamsulosin still could be a culprit, especially if you have recently been dehydrated, so stop this and see if you are feeling better. Discuss about this with your doctor before stopping it.
If you start noting a deterioration of urinary symptoms after stopping tamsulosin, you can have your uroflowmetry test and if your flow is substantially low, say less than 12 ml/sec peak flow rate, a prostate surgery is a fairly simple procedure, especially nowadays with laser or bipolar technology.
Hope I have been to help you.
Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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Answered by
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Dr. V. Sasanka

Urologist

Practicing since :1995

Answered : 529 Questions

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What Causes Dizziness Inspite Of Being On Tamsulosin For Prostate Cancer?

Brief Answer: can stop tamsulosin and see if giddiness reduces Detailed Answer: Hi, A very simple way of checking if your giddiness is due to prostate medications is by stopping them and seeing if the giddiness disappears. It is extremely unlikely that avodart is the cause of giddiness, but tamsulosin still could be a culprit, especially if you have recently been dehydrated, so stop this and see if you are feeling better. Discuss about this with your doctor before stopping it. If you start noting a deterioration of urinary symptoms after stopping tamsulosin, you can have your uroflowmetry test and if your flow is substantially low, say less than 12 ml/sec peak flow rate, a prostate surgery is a fairly simple procedure, especially nowadays with laser or bipolar technology. Hope I have been to help you.