In the United States, tamsulosin is one of the most commonly prescribed medications, with over 21 million prescriptions filled in 2019.

Patients who are using tamsulosin frequently question if it has similar effects as Viagra.

Is there an equivalent advantage to taking tamsulosin and Viagra?

Viagra (sildenafil) and Flomax (tamsulosin) can both effectively address the signs and symptoms of BPH.

Tamsulosin HCl capsules can be useful in increasing libido, improving the ability to achieve an erection, and augmenting satisfaction during intercourse.

To assist you in differentiating the two drugs, we supplied some helpful information that may be useful.

What Is Tamsulosin?

Flomax is an alpha-1 blocker that can be used to treat various health issues. So, what is Flomax good for? Flomax for men is a prescription medication for alleviating symptoms of:

• Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
• Kidney stones
• Blockage at the base of the bladder (bladder outlet obstruction)

To use Tamsulosin, patients would need a prescription. In order to address bladder issues and BPH, tamsulosin is blended with other components to heighten its impact. Meds such as Combodart, which include dutasteride, and Vesomni, which has solifenacin within it, are included.

Flomax has the ability to reduce the indications of the lower urinary tract that are caused by BPH, which can then bring about a better libido and firmer erections. Hence, Flomax can be an apt solution for persons suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

What’s the Standard Flomax Dosage For BPH?

The recommended dose is 0.4 mg/day. Those who are not affected by the treatment can raise their dosage to 0.8 mg a day.

Why Is My Flomax Not Working?

It is common for individuals to require a long span of taking the product in order to observe a change. If the medicine doesn’t have any effect, then you may need to try an alternate. If Flomax stops being effective, speak with your doctor or a urologist to find an alternative remedy.

What Is Viagra?

Viagra is a drug for treating erectile dysfunction. A PDE-5 inhibitor is used to treat erectile dysfunction, a condition that is commonly associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).

When sexually aroused, Viagra boosts the amount of blood being sent to the man’s genital area. This way, the user is able to obtain and maintain an erection.

Does Viagra Help with Urination?

Sildenafil citrate has the potential to enhance erectile dysfunction and decrease lower urinary tract problems. Studies have found that guys who took sildenafil for their benign prostatic hyperplasia had improved sexual performance and a higher level of self-esteem.

Does Viagra Shrink an Enlarged Prostate?

Although medications used to treat enlarged prostates can help with symptoms, there is no evidence to prove it can reduce its size. If you are considering taking Viagra to treat both BPH and ED, it is best to speak with an expert. They can assist you in determining the right amount to consume.

What Is the Standard Sildenafil for BPH Dosage?

Both dosages of 50mg and 25mg have the ability to reduce the symptoms of BPH. An example of Nocturia, which is a disorder characterized by frequent urination during the night, can be managed to utilize a 50 mg dosage.

Is Tamsulosin Like Viagra?

Tamsulosin can reduce symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland. This helps to reduce tension in the bladder muscles and aids in returning prostate function to normal. The objective is to make it easy for the user to urinate.

Men take tamsulosin once a day. Typically, in the morning after breakfast. Studies into the effects of Flomax and erectile dysfunction demonstrate that consuming 0.4 milligrams of tamsulosin daily does not harm a person’s intimate ability. In fact, it could improve it.

Does Flomax Work Like Viagra?

Viagra lets the blood vessels relax. This promotes better circulation to the penis. Once it is ingested, sildenafil begins to regulate the phosphodiesterase type-5 enzyme which has the ability to sustain an erection.

Does Flomax have the same effect on erectile dysfunction as Viagra does? The answer is no.

Flomax uses a different mechanism. It focuses solely on the alpha receptors, which results in the prostate being relaxed and the muscles in the bladder neck being loosened. Consequently, people can notice an enhanced stream of urine and a decrease in symptoms of BPH.

So, can tamsulosin be used for erectile dysfunction? Certain medications used to treat BPH can impair a man’s ability to maintain an erection. Individuals taking Terazosin (Hytrin) and Doxazosin (Cardura) may notice a decrease in their ejaculatory capabilities. Tamsulosin at a low dose (0.4 mg/day) will not affect sexual activity in a negative way when compared to other drugs.

However, the greater the dosage, the greater possibility of ejaculation issues. If you are questioning if Flomax can be used to treat erectile dysfunction, then the answer is no, not significantly. If you are only looking for a drug specifically designed to alleviate erectile dysfunction, then Viagra is the best option.

Does Tamsulosin Make You Last Longer in Bed?

Studies indicate that tamsulosin-induced ED could happen. It might aid in postponing ejaculation in males who suffer from premature ejaculation.

What Are the Similarities Between the Medications?

Both Viagra and tamsulosin are oral drugs. They can make a viable treatment option for BPH. Consult your physician to determine if Viagra or Flomax is better for relieving BPH symptoms. Those that struggle with ejaculation problems and prostate enlargement often take Viagra.

Tamsulosin can also curb the symptoms of prostate enlargement. The medicine is in the form of a capsule or tablet that is slowly released into the body, allowing it to be gradually absorbed. Viagra also needs time to kick in.

Another similarity is the severe side effect of priapism. Viagra and Flomax may lead to a hard-on which carries on for more than four hours. These similarities make Flomax and Viagra difficult to distinguish.

What Are the Differences Between the Medications?

The major contrast between Viagra and Flomax is in their results. If you are experiencing signs of BPH, you should be taking Flomax. If you are having difficulty peeing because of an enlarged prostate, Flomax may be a helpful remedy. It operates by decreasing the impediment that is hindering the bladder. This helps the smooth muscles to become more relaxed, which facilitates better urine flow.

But, Viagra can work with both ED and/or BPH. This can be employed to treat erectile dysfunction and to maintain an erection of the penis. Rather than just calming the bladder muscles, Viagra increases the circulation of blood. Thus, helping the penis to stay erect.

Given that these drugs are distinct, the majority of their reactions that could be detrimental will likely differ. Male users of Flomax may experience raised triglyceride levels, heaving, anaemia, queasiness, an unusual flavor in the mouth, and an increase in fatigue.

It is possible to experience certain adverse reactions to tamsulosin immediately after the initial administration. Patients could feel woozy and lightheaded. In these instances, the most sensible thing to do is remain seated and endure it. Consult with an expert if you have more serious reactions to Flomax such as anemia or an allergic reaction.

Using Viagra might lead to a runny nose, blocked nose, indigestion, reddening of the skin, headaches, aching muscles, backache, eruption of the skin, lightheadedness, and feeling sick.

Your Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Medication: When to Consider a Change

Issues to Consider

Presently, two distinct pharmaceuticals have been okayed to treat BPH – alpha-1 blockers and 5–alpha-reductase inhibitors – which operate through separate means, thus creating different hardships. It is crucial to comprehend these distinctions when you decide which drugs are suitable for you.

In essence, alpha-1 blockers take care of the difficulty in urination by loosening particular muscles in the prostate and the urinary tract, whereas 5–alpha-reductase inhibitors address the enlargement of the prostate by reducing its size.

The alpha-1 blockers are classed into two groups. The three explicit choices, consisting of alfuzosin (Uroxatral), silodosin (Rapaflo), and tamsulosin (Flomax, generic), act mainly on the muscles of the urinary tract. The drugs doxazosin (Cardura, generic) and terazosin (Hytrin, generic), which are non-selective, have an effect on both the urinary tract and various other body tissues. These drugs, called 5–alpha-reductase inhibitors, can affect the prostate directly. Dutasteride (Avodart) and finasteride (Proscar, generic) are examples of these medications.

There are further medications which have been conceived (see “Anticholinergic drugs” and “PDE-5 inhibitors,” for details), but are currently unreleased. Consider the potential advantages and disadvantages of using alpha-1 blockers and 5–alpha-reductase inhibitors before making a decision.

Anticholinergic drugs

These medications are used to keep the bladder muscles from contracting too vigorously, causing urinary incontinence. It has been discovered recently by researchers that in addition to benign prostatic hyperplasia, more than half of men dealing with this condition also have overactive bladder, which could make their urination issues even worse. Investigators are now studying if the use of anticholinergic medications can help in ameliorating the symptoms of BPH.

When it comes to prescribing medications, urologists usually have a go-to method: Alpha-1 blockers tend to be the best option for alleviating urinary issues including challenging or frequent urination, particularly when the prostate gland is notably compact. In the event that you have an enlarged prostate gland or have not been able to get relief from alpha-1 blockers, then it could be a good idea to consider taking 5–alpha-reductase inhibitors. They have an impressive record of decreasing the odds of requiring an operation or suffering from issues like a sudden inability to urinate. Sometimes the medications are prescribed in combination.

Time to Change?

Any of the following suggests that you should re-evaluate your BPH medication:

• Your BPH symptoms worsen, even though you are taking your current medication.
• You notice side effects that weren’t affecting you before.
• You start taking a drug for some other medical condition — or add drugs to an existing regimen (for example, you add another medication to help control your high blood pressure).
• You start taking a drug for erectile dysfunction.

Speed of Relief

Alpha-1 blockers start to show an effect in a matter of days or weeks. Although the nonselective agents may take some time, doses will eventually have to be raised in a careful manner in order to avoid decreasing one’s blood pressure too drastically. Generally, physicians commence by prescribing 1 mg of terazosin or doxazosin in the evening and eventually raise the dose as necessary up to a maximum of 10 mg for terazosin or 8 mg for doxazosin. Titration, as it is called, can be maddening for you, since you will have to delay until you identify the fitting amount of medication.

Dosing is simpler for the selective alpha-1 blockers. You should take either 0.4 mg or 0.8 mg of tamsulosin 30 minutes after your evening meal. A 10-mg dosage of Alfuzosin should be taken once per day, following a meal, and this is a time-release formulation.

It takes more time to notice the effects of the 5–alpha-reductase inhibitors. These medications cause the prostate to become smaller by lowering the amount of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which stimulates prostate enlargement. After a few weeks of taking a 5–alpha-reductase inhibitor, the DHT levels would drop sharply; however, it can take up to 3-6 months to experience any improvements in the rate of urination, and it might even be longer.

Combination Therapy

Is there a benefit to taking two medications for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) instead of just one? The MTOPS study showed that it is possible that treatment of prostate symptoms could be effective in some males. In the research, 3,047 dudes with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia were appointed by chance to take doxazosin (Cardura), finasteride (Proscar), a mixture of the two, or a sugar pill. Around four and a half years of studying, a combination of two drugs showed a 66% decrease in the worsening of BPH symptoms compared to taking a placebo, a much more successful result than with either of the two drugs taken individually. When compared with the group taking the placebo, progression of BPH was decreased by 39% in those taking doxazosin and 34% in those taking finasteride.

Examining the MTOPS data from 2006, it was determined that combining therapies resulted in the most benefits for males with prostates larger than 25 grams.

Sexual Side Effects

The 5–alpha-reductase inhibitors may cause sexual side effects due to their influence on testosterone levels of males. In the initial experiments, it was observed that between 3.7 and 6 percent of guys who took these drugs suffered from erectile dysfunction. A further 3.3% of males encountered a downturn in their sex drive, whilst 2.8% had difficulty in ejaculating at climax.

Furthermore, a certain type of alpha-1 blocker named tamsulosin can lead to difficulties with ejaculation in some men who utilize it. Other alpha-1 blockers may produce fewer of these issues.

Erectile dysfunction can be managed with three particular medicines, and it is generally all right to simultaneously take these medicines with a BPH medication – be it an alpha-1 blocker or a 5–alpha-reductase inhibitor. Nonetheless, we feel it’s important to give a word of warning.

What steps to take regarding ejaculation difficulties during intercourse depend on what drugs you have been prescribed. If you are using a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, the only option to ease ejaculation problems is to cease taking the medicine prescribed for treating an enlarged prostate. Hence, you might have to opt for a different form of treatment (such as a surgery) to address urinary issues. Although you may be prescribed tamsulosin, attempting to take it only every other day may help to reduce any ejaculation issues.

Making a Decision

It is quite clear that picking whether to change your therapy for BPH, either by adjusting the amount of drugs taken or exchanging them for others, is a complicated issue. Only you are aware of how severe your urinary issues are, as well as any other health elements and compromises that need to be taken into account.

In the end, you have the final say when it comes to your own health, and because everyone’s body reacts to drugs differently, these are simply a set of general rules to follow.

The details present in this table, plus the content of the rest of this article, can assist you in thoroughly examining your medication choices. If you find that medications do not give you enough relief, you may have to consider the possibility of surgery.

Conclusion

Doctors advise taking Flomax if you experience difficulties with urination due to BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), which is caused by an enlarged prostate. Viagra is designed for people who are having trouble getting and maintain an erection, especially those who are suffering from impotence or erectile dysfunction.

Viagra is here to increase the flow of blood to the muscles in the penis. Flomax has the effect of relaxing the bladder muscles.

In other words, these are two distinct drugs with similar advantageous features. Speak to a professional to determine which product is best for you and how much of it to take.