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Does Flomax Interact With Alcohol?
Question: Can I have a glass of wine each day while taking .4 mg of Flomax?
Brief Answer:
Risk of dropping blood pressure too low with this combination:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The combination of Flomax (which is an "alpha 1 adrenergic blocker) and alcohol can cause an increase in the Flomax's risks of dropping your blood pressure too low and in addition this is worse when standing.
In addition, some people lack a certain enzyme which makes this problem even worse. People of Asian descent, and people who experience "flushing" after drinking alcohol are more likely to have this increased problem.
Having a glass of wine isn't absolutely contraindicated, but I would say use extreme caution, particularly if your blood pressure tends toward the lower side. But regardless, use extreme caution, rise from sitting with care, and monitor if you feel light headed which is a sign of your blood pressure not rising adequately.
I am also providing some information for medical professionals on this combination:
" ETHANOL + FLOMAX (tamsulosin)
GENERALLY AVOID: The concurrent use of ethanol and alpha-1 adrenergic blockers may cause increased hypotensive effects. Patients with aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiencies (primarily Asians) may be at a higher risk of this interaction. The mechanism has not been determined. In addition, any patients taking alpha adrenergic blockers may experience excessive orthostatic hypotension with ethanol ingestion, due to ethanol's unopposed vasodilatory effects in the presence of alpha adrenergic blockade.
MANAGEMENT: Patients who develop a flushing reaction after ethanol ingestion (indicates a possible aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency) should be advised to avoid ethanol or limit their intake. All patients should be warned about the possibility of orthostatic hypotension with concurrent ethanol use."
I hope this information helps.
Risk of dropping blood pressure too low with this combination:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The combination of Flomax (which is an "alpha 1 adrenergic blocker) and alcohol can cause an increase in the Flomax's risks of dropping your blood pressure too low and in addition this is worse when standing.
In addition, some people lack a certain enzyme which makes this problem even worse. People of Asian descent, and people who experience "flushing" after drinking alcohol are more likely to have this increased problem.
Having a glass of wine isn't absolutely contraindicated, but I would say use extreme caution, particularly if your blood pressure tends toward the lower side. But regardless, use extreme caution, rise from sitting with care, and monitor if you feel light headed which is a sign of your blood pressure not rising adequately.
I am also providing some information for medical professionals on this combination:
" ETHANOL + FLOMAX (tamsulosin)
GENERALLY AVOID: The concurrent use of ethanol and alpha-1 adrenergic blockers may cause increased hypotensive effects. Patients with aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiencies (primarily Asians) may be at a higher risk of this interaction. The mechanism has not been determined. In addition, any patients taking alpha adrenergic blockers may experience excessive orthostatic hypotension with ethanol ingestion, due to ethanol's unopposed vasodilatory effects in the presence of alpha adrenergic blockade.
MANAGEMENT: Patients who develop a flushing reaction after ethanol ingestion (indicates a possible aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency) should be advised to avoid ethanol or limit their intake. All patients should be warned about the possibility of orthostatic hypotension with concurrent ethanol use."
I hope this information helps.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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