Up to 90% of men over the age of 70 experience one or more symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is more commonly known as having enlarged prostates.
There is good news, though. Medications like Viagra (sildenafil) and Flomax (tamsulosin) can help treat these symptoms. But is tamsulosin like sildenafil, and if so, how?
Today, we want to help you answer all your questions about BPH medications like tamsulosin and sildenafil. Keep reading this guide to find the answers you’ve been searching for.
What Is Viagra (Sildenafil)?
Viagra is the brand name for the drug sildenafil. It falls under a drug class called phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors).
What Is Viagra Used For?
The HPFB in Canada has approved Viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Men aged 18 years or older can use Viagra for ED.
Viagra is also approved to help treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Read more: How Long Does Viagra Last? Effects, Duration & More
What Is Flomax (Tamsulosin)?
Flomax is the brand name for the drug tamsulosin. Here’s how Flomax works. It is an alpha-blocker. Alpha-blockers work to relax the muscles of the bladder and prostate.
What Is Tamsulosin Used For?
The HPFB has approved tamsulosin to treat symptoms of men with BPH. A major complication in men with BPH is difficulty urinating. Flomax can help ease this side effect.
Is Flomax Like Viagra?
Yes, Viagra and Flomax are similar because both drugs help treat symptoms of BPH. However, these drugs treat different BPH symptoms. What is more, they go about treating these symptoms using entirely different methods.
The only other commonality these drugs share is that they have one side effect in common. Both Viagra and Flomax may lead to priapism. Priapism is the medical term for having an erection that lasts for longer than four hours.
What Are the Differences Between Viagra and Flomax?
The most obvious difference between Viagra and Flomax is the symptoms of BPH that they treat.
As mentioned, Flomax (tamsulosin) helps men who have difficulty urinating due to enlarged prostates. Viagra (sildenafil), on the other hand, treats impotence. Impotence is another word for erectile dysfunction, which is also a side effect of BPH.
Viagra and Flomax are also different classes of drugs. Flomax is an alpha-blocker that helps muscles relax. Meanwhile, Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor, meaning it improves blood flow, particularly to the penis.
Are There Any Drug Interactions Between Viagra and Flomax?
You should talk to your primary care physician before using sildenafil (Viagra) and tamsulosin (Flomax) together. Taking these two drugs together can lead to serious drug interactions like a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
However, under a doctor’s supervision, you can take Viagra and Flomax simultaneously. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of Viagra to reduce the risk of this potential side effect.
What Is the Proper Flomax Dosage?
Flomax is a daily medication. Most doctors will recommend starting with 0.4 milligrams per day or up to 0.8 milligrams per day. Your doctor will likely recommend taking your Flomax with a meal.
What Is the Proper Viagra Dosage?
Viagra is an as-needed medication. That means you do not have to take it every day. Instead, most manufacturers recommend using one 25–100 milligram dose of Viagra at least one hour before engaging in sex. Always consult your doctor to know what dosage best fits your physical health.
What Are the Side Effects of Viagra and Flomax?
Viagra and Flomax are two different classes of drugs. They work in completely different ways. That is why they only share one side effect, as discussed above, which is prolonged erections (Priapism).
The most common side effects of Flomax (tamsulosin) include nausea, weakness, vomiting, and taste changes. Men who use Flomax may also experience a decline in white and red blood cells (anemia), as well as increased body fat (triglycerides).
Viagra (sildenafil) tends to come with more side effects. Headaches, a stuffy nose, nausea, rashes, dizziness, diarrhea, stomach pain, and facial flushing are all common symptoms. UTIs and temporary colour blindness may also occur in some men.
Though Viagra may have more mild side effects, Flomax has the potential for more severe symptoms. For example, low blood pressure and intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) are rare but serious side effects of Flomax.
What Are the Alternatives to Viagra and Flomax?
Viagra and Flomax both have generic options available. Generic versions may cost less than brand-name drugs that contain the same active ingredients.
Alternatives to Flomax also include other alpha-blockers like Hytrin, Uroxatral, and Rapaflo. Other erectile dysfunction solutions include tadalafil and Cialis. Cialis is arguably the second most popular drug behind Viagra.
The benefits of Cialis include its use in the treatment of ED. Alternatives to Cialis include vardenafil (Levitra and Staxyn) and avanafil (Stendra).
But when it comes to the difference between Flomax vs. Cialis, there is no comparison. Cialis is used to treat ED, while Flomax treats difficulty urinating.
How Much Do Viagra and Flomax Cost?
Brand name Viagra can get pricey. On average, Viagra costs about $15 per dose in Canada. You can purchase generic Viagra (sildenafil) for a fraction of the cost per pill.
Flomax is much less expensive. One 0.4 milligram pill usually costs about $1.40 in Canada. Generic Flomax (tamsulosin) costs even less at as little as $0.30 per dose.
If you have health insurance, it can lower the cost of brand-name and generic BPH medications like Flomax and Viagra significantly.
Can You Buy Viagra and Flomax Over the Counter?
No, you can not buy Viagra or Flomax over the counter. You need a doctor’s prescription to get Viagra and Flomax. To get Flomax, you will also need a diagnosis of BPH.
You may be able to get a Viagra prescription without a BPH diagnosis. Men who suffer from ED can talk to their doctor about Viagra and other medications that can help with ED that is not related to BPH.
Which One Is Better: Viagra or Flomax?
In short, both Flomax (tamsulosin) & Viagra (sildenafil) treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). But Viagra treats ED, formerly known as impotence, while Flomax treats difficulty urinating.
The answer to the question of which one is better depends on the symptoms of BPH you have. Depending on your needs, your doctor may prescribe one or both of these medications.
Are you looking for more resources on medication for BPH and other conditions? You’ve come to the right place. Subscribe to the Infomedly newsletter to get more articles like this one delivered to your inbox.
