A doctor diagnosed BPH, commonly known as an enlarged prostate, a very common occurrence for men as they age. As a matter of fact, I am told that if a man lives long enough, he has a 100% chance of an enlarged prostate. For you younger guys, the chief complaint of an enlarged prostate is difficulty urinating: a weak stream, and you don't empty your bladder all at once (commonly called "incomplete emptying") meaning that you have to go back to the toilet a minute or two, or a few minutes alter and urinate again.
The doctor prescribed FloMax (Tamsulosin Hydrochloride) and I've been taking it for almost a month now, and I love the stuff. I'm pissin' like a twenty year old! No more standing at the toilet, dribbling urine on my feet, no more going back to the toilet five minutes later. If all medications were this effective, it would be a nicer world.

But, I didn't post this to give you the Piss Report. I am here to tell you about a most interesting side effect, and I would like to hear from others who are taking this stuff, if they have had the same experience.

Vivid dreams. Vivid, book-length dreams. Dreams I remember in detail when I wake up.

This started the day after (or night after, actually) I began taking this stuff. What will happen is that I am in bed for about 10 or 15 minutes, and then, while I'm still awake, I will begin to "daydream" and feel sleep pulling me down. I know I'm still awake, because if I so desire, I can stop this from happening and be wide awake. If I let it go uninterrupted, though, I fall asleep, and my impression is that I do not then immediately dream. Of course, we are told that dreams occur during REM sleep, which humans, not being cats, do not get into immediately after falling asleep. I can tell you, though, that it doesn't take all that long for me to start dreaming. I went to bed one night about 11:30, had a vivid dream and woke up about 1:45 AM.

Each and every night, I have these dreams. They are, for the most part, not what I would describe as nightmares, there is no real sense of urgency or loss or sadness or terror, etc. No one is chasing me, I'm not fighting anyone, not running for my life or anything like that.

In these dreams, events are combined. For example, a couple of nights ago, I went to my high school senior prom (actually, I didn't go. I was too busy drinking beer, smoking weed and hanging out with my friends, chasing girls). But, it was my high school prom...and a gun show (I haven't been to a gun show in years). There was a band playing, kids dancing, and old guys with tables set up to sale firearms. It was all in a huge auditorium. I was walking around, talking to my high school friends, looking at the hardware- and it went on for the longest time.

Last night in my dream, my wife and I drove to this big plantation mansion- stately columns, steps, huge front porch- a magnificent place. We go up the steps and just inside the door are two lines of people, converging into one, going into this hallway, which then lead down a set of stairs, where there was, for whatever reason, a Chik-Fil-A restaurant. The wife went off to the bathroom. An old man was taking orders. He said "Please look at the menu." I said thank you but I already know what I want. I had a dollar in my hand. He said "Please look at the menu." I looked up and there was a menu, but it was obscured by all this vegetation and vines covering it, all this greenery- so much, you could barely see the menu. I said "I can't really see the menu, but I just want a sandwich." He snatched the dollar out of my hand and said something I don't recall, but he was not happy with me.
After that, the wife and I were back in the car and we went to this building, sort of a mall structure. A bunch of people were milling around, and there were small desks set up on a platform, and this, apparently, was my wife's place of employment. I told her I was going to go someplace, I can't recall, and I asked to borrow her shoes. They were those white tennis shoe sorta things you see nurses wearing in hospitals. I put them on, went wherever, came back, kicked them off and said something like thanks for the loan. When I told my wife about this today, she- being a woman- said "I guess that means you think I have big feet." No, that's not it at all. My brain was simply rambling down a hillside, picking up random things as it went. It was a dream.

The last thing that I find remarkable is that a couple of times- last night included- the end of these dreams has a song in them- a tune (no words) that I don't recognize from real life. Actually, they're kinda catchy, and though I've forgotten them by now, the next time I experience this, I'm going to record it (sing it) to the audio recorder on my phone so that I remember it.

The taking of this medication coinciding with the initiation of these dreams- this not a coincidence; of this, I have no doubt.

So, I would like to ask those of you who take FloMax (and I know some of you old guys must be taking it) if you have had similar experience.

For those of you not taking this medication, I don't mind general commentary, but please do not use this thread to tell us about your dreams. I am fascinated by this side-effect and I would like to know if anyone else here is experiencing it.

Interesting. I have those inconclusive dreams. I'm not on Flomax. I wonder if it's a a side effect of the drug or the fact that you don't need to pee allowing deeper REM sleep?

I only get those dreams when I am deep out.

I wanna find that restaurant again. A Chik-Fil-A sandwich for a dollar? Come on.

Hey, it's a dream. Don't ask too much.

Eta: I try to program the next dream. Like "I'd like to go sailing/hunting/get laid next. How about it?" Sometimes it works.

I have found it is possible to pre-program dreams.

Not me personally but my father-in-law says that since he's been on blood pressure medication he has insanely vivid dreams and he can remember most details.

One of my wife's brothers passed away about 10 years ago from ALS. My FIL says he has full on conversations with him and it almost feels real.


I'm not sure which medication he is on though.

Fascinating you can remember so much of the dreams. I forget most of mine a few minutes after I wake up. I'll likely be taking that med eventually. That condition runs in both sides of the family.

I have... well, had BPH. Dr. wanted to prescribe FloMax, but I'd read here on SF about some nasty side-effects, so I was reluctant. Tried saw palmetto, first, instead.

Problem solved.

No change in dreams

My Doc put me on FloMax too. Helps some, but not a lot. My prescription is two 0.4 mg capsules per day.

I don’t get the dream effect either.

Not directly relevant to your dreams…but it is associated with floppy iris syndrome.

Just sayin…

Don't recall vivid dreams when I was taking it. Had issues with it so got switched to Terazosin.

I've been prescribed Flomax to facilitate passing kidney stones so I've only taken it maybe over a couple of weeks at a time. I don't recall having vivid dreams though.

I'm glad you've found relief for your symptoms.

I've been in the Flowmaster club for years, no dream thing for me
Only side effect is a dry load
Which is kinda of a nightmare

quote:

Originally posted by sigmoid:
Only side effect is a dry load

What is the world does that mean?

the only legal technicolor dreams I've ever had came when I was using the full strength nicorette patch to get off cigarettes and they were vivid and intense.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by sigmoid:
Only side effect is a dry load

What is the world does that mean?

Flomax can cause Retrograde Ejaculation. I'll let you Google it rather than go into too much detail here...

If the prostate gets to the point a TURP is recommended, look at alternatives. The TURP will limit your options should prostate cancer develop, an extremely common male condition.

I expect vivid dreaming. When I hit the sack, I think "Take me on a trip upon your magic sailing ship."

quote:

Originally posted by m499:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by sigmoid:
Only side effect is a dry load

What is the world does that mean?

Flomax can cause Retrograde Ejaculation. I'll let you Google it rather than go into too much detail here...

Yeah, you guys don't want to do this in my thread. Really, you don't. sigmoid, you mind your manners.

I'm asking about a specific side-effect.

Sorry I was just answering your question above.

I know. My remarks were not directed at you.

Very interested to hear about this. Good dreams are fun. Those dreams sound like a blast.