Tamsulosin- side effects dizzy & high Bp!

Hi Pastyum

I'm sorry to hear about the problems your husband is currently having which hopefully will be resolved shortly.

I was prescribed Tamsolusin (TS) part way through my RT treatment & remember the specialist nurse asking if I had high blood pressure, as one of the side effects of TS was to reduce BP.  I was on a low dose of Amlodipine alongside Rampiril & fortunately didn't have any negative reactions on taking TS.

I'm not medically trained, & whilst I can't see this as being an issue which would affect the RT treatment, I think the best thing would be that you give the hospital a call tomorrow to let them know (their contact number should be on the paperwork you have been given).

I'm sure others will be along shortly with their thoughts.

Best Wishes

Brian

Thank you for your response! We will contact the department and let them know he is off it see what they say!  it wont affect the schedule! Hopefully bp will lower soon! 

Hi, I seem to recall them telling me to stop my rampril before my brachytherapy otherwise my blood pressure would have been too low, so I am surprised they haven’t advised you about all this, because the last thing you want is to turn up then be turned away due to this. Anyway, you have time, let us know how you get on in case this comes up again.,  

Hi thank you for your response- they did advise low blood pressure was side effect but his bp has gone too high and not low and the dizziness is making him unable to stand without support! 

I have been on Tamsulosin for over a decade now - since before my RT in early 2016 I have not had any problems.  I don't think this would cause problems with his RT but the radiotherapy department and his consultant should be aware of everything.

If your husband is so dizzy he can't stand without support then he needs to see his GP urgently - infact I would have had my wife call 111 or even take me to A&E if this happened to me - even though I detest A&E.  You should definitely tell his consultant and the radiotherapy team about this.  Infact anything new that happens during this time and during  radiotherapy should be reported so that they are aware and can get something done about it - even if it is not directly to do with the treatment or not.  Please remember to do this and report anything untoward to the radiotherapists during the treatment too so that then can sort any problems out and make his journey that much easier.

Hello thank you for your response! We have just spent 36 hours in A&E and Acute medical ward- upshot is the reduction of Amlodipine & Ranolasine has caused bp to spiral and Tamsulosin causing postural hypotension & dizziness! He is now home and we are told bp should return to normal with amlodipine reintroduced and Tamsulosin stopped- will take a few days! I will be monitoring his bp and other  symptoms closely and will call 111 if required! I will inform radiotherapy of recent events! Thank you