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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 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:

erythromycin,
ketoconazole (Nizoral, Extina, Xolegel, Kuric),
paroxetine (Paxil),
cimetidine (Tagamet),
ritonavir (Norvir),
lopinavir, and
other drugs that reduce the elimination of drugs by liver enzymes.

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.

QUESTION

The prostate is about the size of a _____________. See Answer

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Related Disease Conditions

Prostate Problems

The prostate is a gland that is part of the male reproductive system and is located between the bladder and penis. Signs and symptoms of prostate problems include painful ejaculation, burning or pain while urinating, blood in the urine or semen, dribbling urine, frequent urination, urinary incontinence, and pain in the lower back, hips, upper thighs, or the pelvic or rectal area. Common causes of prostate problems in men are prostatitis, enlargement of the prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. Causes of prostate problems can assist in diagnosing prostate cancer. Treatments for prostate problems include medications, surgery, and hormone or radiation therapy.
Urinary Retention

Urinary retention (inability to urinate) may be caused by nerve disease, spinal cord injury, prostate enlargement, infection, surgery, medication, bladder stone, constipation, cystocele, rectocele, or urethral stricture. Symptoms include discomfort and pain. Treatment depends upon the cause of urinary retention.
Prostatitis vs. BPH (Enlarged Prostate): What Is the Difference?

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.
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 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.
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