Dizziness after brachytherapy

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Question:

I got hold of my local urologist yesterday and he said that my blood pressure isn’t low enough to explain my dizziness, but that Flomax can cause dizziness for other reasons. He OK’d going to one every other day, so I tried it. Only slight decrease in ability to start the urine flow, but the dizziness is gone and I can function normally.

Paul, It’s my understanding that any alpha blocker can cause dizziness, I take a different one for BP with the same benefit of flomax, and take it in the evening to avoid dizzines when I’m up and about. Tom

Response:

I’m glad to hear that is helping. Bev

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I got hold of my local urologist yesterday and he said that my blood pressure isn’t low enough to explain my dizziness, but that Flomax can cause dizziness for other reasons. He OK’d going to one every other day, so I tried it. Only slight decrease in ability to start the urine flow, but the dizziness is gone and I can function normally.

Response:

Glad you found a solution Paul. This is the first I’ve heard of a person having a side effect from Flomax. It’s a pretty safe drug. I’ve been out of town for a week and I’m just getting caught up. Larry

Response:

Staying close to a bathroom is a convenience. Your BP is a HEALTH problem; it needs to be lower. I.P. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I discontinued the one the urologist prescribed. I feel better now. My BP is 148/80. My main problem is that I have to stay within minutes of a bathroom or restroom.

Response:

Hi Paul, I had seeds a year ago (June 2004). Preceded by 5 weeks of EBRT (April May timeframe). I was traveling frequently during that period, even between the EBRT’s and seeds and again immediately after the seeds. I wore a pad for insurance but never needed it. As for the fatigue, in my case, it would be intermittent. I was on two-a-day Flomax for about the first three months and am still on one-a-day. I try to wean myself off it but notice a deterioration by the next day and have to go back. Doc says don’t worry about it – it’s a safe drug. A lot is going on in your body right now and you are bound to have some side affects. Just rest when you have to. Remember, you’ve had several radioactive seeds placed in your body and they’re doing their thing. You won’t have the same level of energy for a while so you have to learn to pace yourself until this has a chance to pass. Also, eat healthy foods that are easy to digest. i.e. my staple for breakfast is blueberries and soy milk. I usually get the most tired after eating. But then, I’m also on Zoladex and that carries its own baggage. Good luck, Larry

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I didn’t pay much attention to the handouts I got before my brachytherapy warning that radiation treatments can cause dizziness and weakness because they seemed to be generally intended for all kinds of cancer patients who wouldn’t have such localized, targeted radiation. It’s been nine days since the implant, and I hadn’t really noticed anything like that until today, when I climbed a flight of stairs in an art gallery and got hit with sudden fatigue and dizziness. It’s been about an hour, and I feel pretty much the same. Has anyone else gone through this? Can I expect intermittent spells, or a steady period of fatigue? I have important travel scheduled for next week and hope this won’t wreck my trip.

Response:

I was already on Flomax before the brachytherapy for enlarged prostate. My doctor says I’ll probably be on it permanently. At first my insurance insisted on my trying Hytrin instead, and I almost fainted a few times and got permssion to switch to Flomax, which produced no noticeable side-effects at first and greatly improved my stream.

Response:

I didn’t pay much attention to the handouts I got before my brachytherapy warning that radiation treatments can cause dizziness and weakness because they seemed to be generally intended for all kinds of cancer patients who wouldn’t have such localized, targeted radiation. It’s been nine days since the implant, and I hadn’t really noticed anything like that until today, when I climbed a flight of stairs in an art gallery and got hit with sudden fatigue and dizziness. It’s been about an hour, and I feel pretty much the same. Has anyone else gone through this? Can I expect intermittent spells, or a steady period of fatigue? I have important travel scheduled for next week and hope this won’t wreck my trip.

My brachytherapy was on May 9. I experienced the same thing. The urologist put me on Uroxatral. After several days I became extremely weary and stopped taking it. In a couple of days I was fine. Went back to see him and he informed me I probably had a touch of the flu and that I should never discontinue medication until speaking to a doctor. When home and after a few days, unknown to my wife I thought I would take it again. Same symptoms came back, weariness and a time or two I thought I would pass out. The last time my wife’s BP tester was on the end table. I tested and was 113 over 65, much lower than normal for me. The following day I went to see my GP. Told his nurse how bad I was feeling. She looked at my meds and say,"Do you know you are taking two prescriptions that are Cardura?" I said I didn’t take Cardura. She said, yes you are. The doctor walked in and said, tell him. She had the prescription book open and showed what I was taking. He said to discontinue one. That was Wednesday. I discontinued the one the urologist prescribed. I feel better now. My BP is 148/80. My main problem is that I have to stay within minutes of a bathroom or restroom.

Response:

My usual blood pressure is 110 over 70 or so. Today it’s 100 over 67, so definitely down.

Response:

The Flomax will probably lower your BP but only slightly.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My usual blood pressure is 110 over 70 or so. Today it’s 100 over 67, so definitely down.

Response:

Geez, I missed that – you already said it had only been a few days. Depending on the type of seeds used, Iodine 125’s have a half life of approx. 59 days, you will feel the greatest effects from seeding during the first half life. My husband used to refer to it as a "war going on inside of him" and he was aware of it. The seeds are killing cells and your body is fighting the seeds. The seeds will win! But in the meantime you are going to know it. Chemically your body goes into a defense mode not unlike what it might do to fight a germ warfare with the common cold or other bug. The best thing you can do is just take care of yourself. Eat well and get some extra sleep at night. Unless you were in great physical shape going into the seeding I’d suggest you not attempt to scale Mount Rainier, or participate in the Ironman in the next few months. That doesn’t mean you can’t play 18 holes, have fun with your grandkids on the tennis court, or mow the lawn. Just be kind to yourself. Rest often. You’ve just had surgery. Yes, brachy is still a form of surgery! Give your body a chance. Bev

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s been 10 days since the implants.

Response:

My oncologist is out of town, but I just spoke to a colleague of his who recommended seeing if I could get by on Flomax every other day without having flow problems, so that’s what I’ll be trying next.

Response:

It’s been 10 days since the implants.

Response:

Thanks. This is really very helpful and reassuring. This morning I seem to have gotten over the dizziness. I’m going to check my blood pressure at Rite-Aid, though, just to see what’s up. Monday I can talk to my doctor. I do love weekends, except when it comes to irritating but non-emergency medical problems! I haven’t noticed any weakness after eating.

Response:

How long has it been since you had your implants? Fatigue is pretty common. Not the I can’t do anything type of fatigue but the I need to get an extra hour of sleep at night or a nap would be nice kind of fatigue. Are you on Hytrin or Flomax they can lower your BP and maybe a wee bit too much. Bev

Response:

Sorry , I missed this post. Most guys use the Flomax for a couple of weeks or a month or three. My husband was one who wound up using it for almost 2 years. Maybe you could try cutting your Flomax in half. My husband took his every morning and every night and he know when it wore off! If it is a business trip maybe you could delay it – if it is a fun trip go for it and don’t worry about anything! LOL Bev

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Good point. I tend to have low-normal blood pressure anyway, and I am taking Flomax. But I was taking it for some weeks before the seeds and it didn’t bother me. Maybe something else just pushed me over the edge. Thanks for getting back to me. Just curious: I’m wondering how long it’s going to continue to be hard to urinate/empty the bladder, especially at night. What’s your experience?

Response:

Hi Paul, I experienced slight dizziness and some fatigue, but mine was caused from taking low blood pressure medications along with flomax which reduced my pressure too much. Since adjusting my blood pressure meds, I have had no more problems. If you are taking similar meds, you might want to check your blood pressure. (I had brachytherapy about 5 weeks ago. No major problems yet.) Woody

Response:

Good point. I tend to have low-normal blood pressure anyway, and I am taking Flomax. But I was taking it for some weeks before the seeds and it didn’t bother me. Maybe something else just pushed me over the edge. Thanks for getting back to me. Just curious: I’m wondering how long it’s going to continue to be hard to urinate/empty the bladder, especially at night. What’s your experience?

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