Flomax

[leswaller]

Has anyone any experience or information regarding the use of Flomax and diving?

[Tristan Green]

Les,

No personal experience, but a quick google search turned up this information:

"One of the prominent non-surgical therapies ... is a group of drugs called alpha blockers, an old blood pressure medication. Two tradenames are 'Hytrin' and 'Flomax'. They are quite effective in relieving symptoms but have a major side effect - they cause significant nasal mucosal congestion and can be a cause of extreme difficulty in equalizing while scuba diving."

It also lists:

"Another side effect is hypotension; what effect the changes that take place in immersion would have on the diver on this medication would need careful titration and observation for the first few dives."

I suggest you contact a diving doctor if you are this medication to seek their advice. If they give you the ok, then start off with a few short shallow dives with an experienced buddy who can monitor you through the dives and build up from there if there are no problems.

Cheers,
Tristan

[Nigel Hewitt]

Has anyone any experience or information regarding the use of Flomax and diving?
Yes for a couple of years.
Prostate trouble?
Shrinkage of the pipework?
Bitch isn't it?
It's never been queried on my medical.

[David Tombs]

At long last I have been to my GP and am just about to go on Flomax. There are potential problems especially related to Hypotension,and thus on long immersions may have problems when getting out. There is also the risk of nasal congestion which may cause equalisation problems. I may just miss out the tablets before diving.Yes I know its naughty,as a medic myself I should be ashamed,but hey ho!

[jwilliams]

Check with a diving doctor - it’s the only way to go!