Q. Is a stuffy nose a side effect of Flomax? I can’t think of any other reason my nose is so stuffed up.
A. In the studies done for this drug to be approved to relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate, quite a few men experienced this problem. Between 13 and 19 percent of them reported “rhinitis,” also known as nasal congestion, stuffy nose, runny nose, sinus congestion or hay fever.
Many others (around 10 percent) reported coming down with cold or flu symptoms–some of which might have been a stuffy nose. Let your doctor know you are experiencing this common complication of tamsulosin (Flomax).
Alternate Approaches
There are other options for treating prostate symptoms. One is a medication that is widely advertised (think bathtubs) as a way to treat erectile dysfunction. Tadalafil (Cialis) has been approved by FDA to treat an enlarged prostate, aka benign prostatic hypertrophy. Although it too can cause nasal congestion, it might be worth a try to see if you develop that side effect.
There are also natural products that are used to ease the frequent nighttime urination and difficulty urinating that are the most troublesome symptoms of this condition, which is very common among older men. Saw palmetto, stinging nettle, Pygeum africanum and pumpkin seeds all have their proponents (Phytotherapy Research, July 2014). They are controversial, however, since a meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration of 17 studies of the most popular, saw palmetto, showed that overall it is no more effective than placebo (BJU International, June 2012).
