Considering stopping tamsulosin - thoughts?
Like many of you, I have been on this journey for some time(5 years give or take). Initially diagnosed with OAB but after being persistent and 4 urologists later - I finally feel like I am headed in the right direction.
After trying OAB meds that did nothing, a urologist prescribed tamsulosin and despite not being thrilled with the side effects, I did see some improvement with urgency, pain, and frequency by maybe a 30 percent improvement. Eventually I was taking .8 and holding steady at 30-40 percent improvement. I met with a new urologist who recommended adding tadalafil and pelvic PT. The addition of the tadalafil seemed to be what turned the corner (dramatic decrease in pain, reduction in urgency and some change in frequency). In an effort to maximize benefits - I took tadalafil in the morning and tamsulosin at night.
After being hesitant on pelvic PT, I pulled the trigger and scheduled and, gentleman for me, it was a game changer. I was such a skeptic at first but the work that’s been done has been amazing - maximizing on all the improvements made by the medicine (i.e. no flare ups, less frequency, less urgency, less muscle tightening/spasms, etc.) The most telling benefit of the PT being that for the first time in 5 years I realized I wasn’t constantly thinking about urinating - who knew that was possible?!?
Now to my question- I inadvertently missed two doses of Tamsulosin at night and noticed that my night time voiding was reduced to only one wake-up or 2 at the max. So I trialed not taking the Tamsulosin for about 2 weeks now and have not noticed an increase in negative symptoms and continue to void less frequently at night. Having come so far I am hesitant to make the change permanent.
Has anyone else been on a combination of both Tamsulosin and tadalafil and then stopped Tamsulosin and maintained positive progress? Just don’t want another shoe to drop