stopping alpha blockers

[DX]

First off, I want to thank the webslave/Mark for creating an excellent website. I used it as a resource for the past 3 months and cannot describe how impressed I am with the quality of discussion.
I have had chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome for 8 months. After trying variety of medications including Levaquin (made it worse), Flomax (seemed to help a little), Tequin (made it worse), any accredited quercetin product (helped with the inflammatory pain), I found that relaxation techniques and stretching described in David Wise's book helped a great deal with my symptoms, which feel mostly like nerve pain in the testicles and perineum.
I am finally going to see a therapist that I was referred to by Dr. Wise in two weeks.
This protocol requires stopping medications including alpha blockers (I was taking Flomax for 6 months).
QUESTIONS: Is there anybody out there who tried stopping alpha blockers after extended use and what the experience was like? I know that symptoms alleviated by a. blockers are suppposed to come back after stopping them. However, I am also worried about implications of relaxing any muscle for 6 months (even if it's smooth muscle). Is there a way that made it easier stopping them i.e. gradually decreasing a dose, frequency etc.
Thanks.
Dan

[Bill in NH]

Is there anybody out there who tried stopping alpha blockers after extended use and what the experience was like?

DX,

I know at least one member who apparently had no problem stopping (see viewtopic.php?p=1898 ). I am also planning to stop in four weeks (at completion of 14 week course) and am interested in the responses to your post.

I don't think the Flomax has been doing that much for me. I started it when I had a flare up, which in retrospect I now attribute to the African Spice in one type of red tea. Overall, I have improved a lot since I first developed chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome in Jan 2003 but the Flomax doesn't appear to have changed the trajectory of my improvement (most of my improvement occurred before I started it). The Flomax has caused retrograde ejaculation which has not yet gone away and so I am looking forward to getting off the drug. On the other hand I still have some nagging symptoms, mainly consisting of discomfort around my bladder and urethra and occasional urgency, so, like you are, I am somewhat concerned that these symptoms might get worse when I stop the Flomax.

[Bill in NH]

[Is there anybody out there who tried stopping alpha blockers after extended use and what the experience was like? ]

Dan,

How did you do after you stopped the Flomax? I'm going off this Thursday, June 19th. I'm 90% better than I was when I developed chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome in January but I'm still a little concerned that my nagging discomfort will worsen.

I also plan to see the therapists in NYC recommedned by Dr. Wise. Have you seen them yet?

[latte]

I am wondering the same thing. I am 90% better after going through hell for almost two years. On my feet, going out to dinner, planning trips, playing golf. Life is almost back to normal. Actually drinking wine occassionally with no flare. I have been on Flomax for about 11/2 years and would like to stop due to retrograde ejaculation. Could the moderators comment on the wisdom of stopping now that I feel better, will it come back if I stop the Flomax?

[DX]

My experience was that going of off Flomax gave me some initial discomfort, but I think that may have been anxiety or a jump in pressure that was observed by my physician. Now, there is no difference in my urinary symptoms when I stopped Flomax. I still get frequency when I have flare of pain once in a while, but that's not any different from when I was taking Flomax. I am able to control or even stop it with relaxation as in D. Wise's book.
I gradually decreased a dosage of Flomax, so I continued taking about half a dose for 2 weeks every other day and after sex. I did this on my own without any advice from doctors and I certainly am not doctor.
The therapist recommended by Dr. Wise in NYC (it's a different one from the one posted by TK in muscle section) is excellent in explaining everything, but I only did one week with them, so nothing to report there yet. They did find a great number of spots that are very tender in abdomen, pelvis, thighs.