Sunday, February 12, 2012
Monday, September 29, 2008 The Wife asks

Q: drinking alcohol (beer) w/flomax - consequences?

Answer This
Answers (2)
8/25/09 11:18am

I was pleased to see this question posed as I have the same concern having been on FlomaxCR for seven (7) days now and monitoring my urine voiding vs. total liquid intake. Last evening I had one beer (341 mL)(and first since on this medication) at 9:00 PM. Normally beer acts as a diuretic promoting urination, but this first experience under the influence of daily FlomaxCR (0.4 mg) suggests a counter effect. At 10:40 PM, I voided 193 mL urine before going to bed (the only voiding after consuming the beer to that time). At 5:15 AM, I awoke to urinate and voided 853 mL and another 350 mL upon rising at 7:40 AM. To have voided 853 mL urine 8 hrs after consuming 341mL of beer clearly suggests to me that beer must exert a counter acting effect to the muscle-relaxing properties of Flomax for which it is specifically endowed to act on prostrate and bladder sphincter muscles to facilitate urination.

Reply
9/ 1/09 11:02pm
Chemist verifies partial inactivation of Flomax by beer. A second physiological test was made concerning the possible interaction of beer and Flomax seven days after the first serendipitous observation of such an effect, i.e., on the day of the 14th daily dosage of Flomax CR (0.4 mg), no beer having been consumed prior to going on Flomax or apart from the two reported incidents. The test was made with a smaller amount of beer (225 mL, 5.0% alcohol) taken during a supper of pasta around 7:15 PM preceded by a bowl of soup (200 mL) and concluded with black tea (200 mL). By 7:30 PM (15 minutes after the beer), 252 mL urine were voided (the previous voiding had been 309 mL at 1:15 PM), and the only voiding before retiring was 129 mL at 10:25 PM. At 11:00 PM, the 15th Flomax tablet was taken with the usual 180 mL water, but no urge to void was sensed until 6:10 AM when 712 mL urine were passed. From the time of drinking only 225 mL of beer until 6:10 AM, i.e., 11 hrs less 5 minutes, only 129 mL of urine was passed before sleeping; hence even a partial beer appears to exert a neutralizing effect on the function of Flomax to facilitate urination over a period of a few hours. It is noteworthy that the package information provided by Boehringer Ingelheim (manufactured by Astellas Pharma Europe B.V., The Netherlands) makes no mention of beer or alcohol interaction with Flomax or any mention of reduced efficacy arising from such consumption! Reply
Answer This

Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of The HealthCentral Network. The HealthCentral Network does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

Btn_ask_question_med
View all questions (1984) >