Flomax and Viagra for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment.
John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP.
John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha’s educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Flomax and Viagra for BPH Treatment Quick Comparison.
Both Flomax (generic name tamsulosin) and Viagra (generic name sildenafil) are medications prescribed to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which causes an enlarged prostate. Flomax is an alpha-blocker prescribed to treat difficulty urinating a symptom of BPH. Viagra is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE-5 inhibitor) prescribed to treat impotence, another symptom of BPH. Both drugs are available in generic form. Because Flomax and Viagra are different types of drugs, most of the side effects are different. Common side effects of Flomax include anemia (decreased red blood cells), decreased white blood cells, nausea, vomiting, abnormal taste, increased triglycerides, and weakness. Common side effects of Viagra include facial flushing, headaches, stomach pain, stuffy nose, nausea, dizziness, rash, urinary tract infections (UTIs) diarrhea, and an inability to differentiate between the colors green and blue. One similar serious side effect of both Flomax and Viagra is prolonged erections lasting more than 4 hours (priapism).
What is Flomax? What is Viagra?
Flomax (tamsulosin) is an oral drug prescribed to treat men who are having difficulty urinating because of an enlarged prostate gland due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Difficulty urinating is caused only in part by the enlarged prostate. The other cause of the difficulty is the muscle cells tightening around the bladder outlet. Flomax helps the muscles relax, which results in a decrease in obstruction to the flow of urine.
Viagra (sildenafil) is used for treating impotence (or erectile dysfunction, ED, the inability to attain or maintain a penile erection). It is in a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE-5 inhibitors) that also includes tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn ODT), and avanafil (Stendra). It works by increasing blood flow to the penis, enabling a man to get and keep an erection.
What are the side effects of Flomax and Viagra?
Flomax side effects.
The most common adverse effects of Flomax include:
Other side effects include:
More serious side effects that have been observed in male patients during treatment with Flomax include:
Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when rising from sitting or lying down position) Priapism (prolonged erection) An eye problem called intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS)
Viagra side effects.
Approximately 15% of males taking Viagra experience side effects.
The most common side effects include:
What is the dosage of Flomax and Viagra?
Flomax dosage instructions.
The recommended starting dose is 0.4 once daily about 30 minutes after the same mealtime each day. When taken on an empty stomach, more of the medication is absorbed. This could cause a greater effect and potentially a drop in blood pressure. The dose may be increased to 0.8 mg once daily after 2 to 4 weeks if the response is not adequate. The capsules should not be crushed, chewed, or opened.
Viagra dosage instructions.
The usual recommended dose is 25 to 100 mg 1 hour before sexual activity. The maximum dose is 100 mg daily. The elderly (over 65 years of age) should start at 25 mg before sexual activity. Sildenafil is rapidly absorbed. Maximum observed plasma concentrations are reached within 30 to 120 minutes (median 60 minutes) of oral dosing in the fasted state. When sildenafil is taken with a high fat meal, the rate of absorption is reduced, with an average delay in the time to maximal concentration of 1 hour.
What are the drug interactions of Flomax and Viagra?
Flomax drug interactions.
The elimination of Flomax from the body may be reduced by:
Reduced elimination may lead to increased side effects of Flomax. PDE-5 inhibitors (for example, vardenafil [Levitra, Staxyn], Adcirca, sildenafil [Viagra, Revatio], tadalafil [Cialis]) add to the blood pressure lowering effects of Flomax and may result in severe blood pressure reduction.
Viagra drug interactions.
Viagra increases the effects of the blood pressure lowering medications. It also increases the blood pressure lowering effects of nitrates, for example, isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil), isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Monoket), nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Transderm-Nitro) that are used primarily for treating angina. Patients taking nitrates should not receive Viagra.
Cimetidine (Tagamet), erythromycin, ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), atazanavir (Reyataz), and mibefradil (Posicor) can cause marked increases in the amount of Viagra in the body. Patients taking these medications should be observed carefully if sildenafil is used.
Patients should not combine Viagra with other PDE5 inhibitors (for example, vardenafil [Levitra], tadalafil [Cialis]).
It is expected that rifampin will decrease blood levels of Viagra and probably reduce its effectiveness.
Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Pictures Slideshow.
Prostate Cancer Slideshow Pictures.
Take the Enlarged Prostate Quiz!
Flomax (brand name tamsulosin) is a medication doctors prescribe to males who have an enlarged prostate gland and who are having difficulty urinating due to a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Flomax blocks chemicals in the muscle cells of the penis to relax, which results in the ability to urinate. Viagra (brand name sildenafil) is a medication doctors prescribe to men who are having problems getting and sustaining an erection (erectile dysfunction, ED, impotence). Viagra works by increasing blood flow to the penis, which allows for a man to get and keep an erection.
Flomax does have serious side effects that include a prolonged erection, intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (an eye problem), and orthostatic hypotension. Click here for dosage and drug interactions for Flomax.
Click here for dosage and drug interaction information for Viagra.
Multimedia: Slideshows, Images & Quizzes.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Enlarged Prostate) Quiz.
Take the Enlarge Prostate Quiz and challenge your knowledge of prostate problems. Learn causes, symptoms, treatments, and.
Picture of Prostate Gland.
A gland within the male reproductive system that is located just below the bladder. See a picture of Prostate Gland and learn.
Picture of Prostate.
Side View of the Prostate. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis. See a picture of the.
Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition cause by an enlarged prostate. Get more information on how an enlarged prostate.
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Prostate Problem Warning Signs.
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Enlarged Prostate (BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate) is very common in men over 50 years of age. Half of all men over the.
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Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration.
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Top Flomax vs Viagra for BPH Related Articles.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate) is very common in men over 50 years of age. Half of all men over the age of 50 develop symptoms of BPH, but few need medical treatment. This noncancerous enlargement of the prostate can impede urine flow, slow the flow of urine, create the urge to urinate frequently and cause other symptoms like complete blockage of urine and urinary tract infections. More serious symptoms are urinary tract infections (UTIs) and complete blockage of the urethra, which may be a medical emergency.
BPH is not cancer. Not all men with the condition need treatment, and usually is closely monitored if no symptoms are present. Treatment measures usually are reserved for men with significant symptoms, and can include medications, surgery, microwave therapy, and laser procedures. Men can prevent prostate problems by having regular medical checkups that include a prostate exam. Contact your doctor or other medical professional if you have these symptoms:
Painful urination Blood in the urine Difficult urinating A frequent urge to urinate Dribbling of urine.
Cialis vs Viagra.
Dutasteride vs. Finasteride.
Dutasteride (brand name Avodart) and finasteride (brand name Procar) are medications prescribed for the treatment of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH). Both dutasteride and finasteride delay the progression of an enlarged prostate gland, which improves symptoms of BPH.
BPH Slideshow.
Take the BPH Quiz.
Mental Health (Psychology)
Prostate Gland Picture.
Prostate Problem Warning Signs.
Prostatitis vs BPH Enlarged Prostate Gland.
Prostatitis and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, enlarged prostate gland) are both conditions of the prostate gland.
There are four types of prostatitis that can be caused by infections (usually bacterial) or other health conditions or problems, acute bacterial prostatitis (type I), chronic bacterial prostatitis (type II), chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (type III), and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis (type IV).
BPH is inflammation of the prostate gland, and most men have the condition by age 50. Doctor's don't know what causes this inflammation, but they theorize that it may be related to hormones. Both of these conditions can cause similar symptoms like low back pain, pain during urination, or difficulty or the inability to urinate. However, prostatitis has many more symptoms and signs than BPH, and they based on the type of prostatitis. Examples include low back pain and/or abdominal pain, painful urination, fever, chills, feeling tired, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), painful urination intermittently, intermittent obstruction urinary tract symptoms (frequent, painful, or incomplete urination), pelvic pain and/or discomfort, pain with ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction (ED).
If you think you have either of these conditions contact your doctor or other health care professional. Bacterial prostatitis can be cured with antibiotics; however, there is no cure for BPH.
sildenafil.
tamsulosin.
Weakness Low blood pressure Increased triglycerides Vomiting Headache Abnormal ejaculation Upper respiratory tract infections.
Drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and pregnancy and breastfeeding information should be reviewed prior to taking any medication.
Urinary Retention.
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