# Flomax and dizziness warning. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699 "2010-03-16T21:46:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/1 "2010-03-16T21:46:39Z")
Daily for years I have seen this warning on my Flomax that says it may cause dizziness upon a sudden change in position. If someone does experience the symptom how long after taking the pill does it happen? ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/2 "2010-03-16T22:13:07Z")
Tamsulosin (Flomax) is an alpha blocker that has selectivity at the prostrate. Since it is an alpha blocker, it has effects on your bodies ability to self-regulate your blood pressure. This is what can cause the dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, the inability to dilate the arteries to combat the lowered blood pressure in the head from standing. The data from the clinical trials don’t say when the dizziness will occur, just the numbers of people who get it (15% in 0.4mg, 17% in 0.8mg, and 10% in placebo for the record). ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/3 "2010-03-16T22:48:00Z")
still occasionally happens to me after about an hour or so. I take 0.4mg. Helps that I usually take it before going to bed. It isn’t a major problem, just an occasional moment of dizziness when I move my head suddenly. It doesn’t happen often. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/4 "2010-03-17T03:02:56Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > Tamsulosin (Flomax) is an alpha blocker that has selectivity at the prostrate. Since it is an alpha blocker, it has effects on your bodies ability to self-regulate your blood pressure. This is what can cause the dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, the inability to dilate the arteries to combat the lowered blood pressure in the head from standing. > > The data from the clinical trials don’t say when the dizziness will occur, just the numbers of people who get it (15% in 0.4mg, 17% in 0.8mg, and 10% in placebo for the record). Nitpick: I think you mean contrict the arteries. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/5 "2010-03-17T06:38:44Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Nitpick: I think you mean contrict the arteries. Yes, your right, that’s what I get for posting while drinking… What can I say? It’s Spring Break! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/6 "2010-03-17T18:07:30Z")
Besides, almost every prescription drug I have ever gotten, lists dizziness as a possible side effect. Probably holds true for any drug that is supposed to alleviate dizziness. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/7 "2010-03-17T21:01:12Z")
I got a letter from CVS today. They now have a generic for Flomax. This will cut costs by about 60-80% or so - a guess, I haven’t done the math. One must get one’s doctor to order three months via phone or fax. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/8 "2010-03-19T12:09:16Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > I got a letter from CVS today. They now have a generic for Flomax. This will cut costs by about 60-80% or so - a guess, I haven’t done the math. One must get one’s doctor to order three months via phone or fax. When I refilled this week I received the generic. It cut my copay by 70%. The color of the pill casing is kind of weird-but I assume they all end up in the same place. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flomax-and-dizziness-warning/532699/9 "2010-03-20T09:24:57Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > Yes, your right, that’s what I get for posting while drinking… What can I say? It’s Spring Break! 😃 You’re posting on the dope during Spring Break? Now that’s my kinda gal! (are you a gal?) haha~