The allergy doctor mentioned I could try a drug called Afrin (oxymetazoline nasal) to help with the chronically congested nose. She told me this after I mentioned that I don’t think the Fluticasone (Flonase Allergy) was working well.
That raised the issue that I may not be using the Flonase right. You’re supposed to spray it away from the center of your nose, etc.
And, she suggested I could try Afrin. I was looking at the Afrin box at CVS today.
I noticed it had a warning for men who have an enlarged prostate.
In patients with prostate enlargement, urinary difficulty may develop or worsen due to smooth muscle contraction in the bladder neck via stimulation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. Therapy with topical sympathomimetic agents should be administered cautiously in patients with hypertrophy or neoplasm of the prostate.
I’m in that prostate enlargement/BPH category. I take Tamsulosin (Flomax) daily to address that as it is…you may be noticing a trend where big Pharma cutesies-up the names with a FLO…Flonsae, Floxmax, etc.
Anyway, by the way, BPH stands for Benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — also called prostate gland enlargement — is a common condition as men get older. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. It can also cause bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems.
There are several effective treatments for prostate gland enlargement, including medications, minimally invasive therapies and surgery. To choose the best option, you and your doctor will consider your symptoms, the size of your prostate, other health conditions you might have and your preferences.
Anyway, I guess the bottom line is that I’ll probably give Afrin a try…but, if I see that it’s giving me trouble urinating, I’ll immediately stop using it. I’ve had difficulty urinating before and that’s really really NOT FUN!