Is Tamsulosin Like Viagra ?
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By:
Mike
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April 16, 2025
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Key Points
– Both Tamsulosin – an alpha-blocker/alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist and Sildenafil are reliable medications caregivers administer to treat urinary disorders i.e. difficulty peeing
– Patients with an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) find relief after using tamsulosin. On the other hand, Viagra (sildenafil) is a medication to treat impotence or Erectile Dysfunction (ED) in men. However, both are not the same; apart from their uses in treating other health conditions individually, they both can treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
– Tamsulosin also individually works effectively in patients suffering with mild to severe Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) – a condition associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia
– Available only with a registered prescription, you cannot buy tamsulosin without your certified healthcare provider’s prescription
Tamsulosin – is a prescription drug used in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP) i.e. benign enlargement of prostate in men. This condition usually affects men in their old age.
Viagra – a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE-5 inhibitor) treats impotence and a symptom of benign prostatic hyperplasia which is not as same as what tamsulosin treats.
Both tamsulosin and Viagra are available in generic forms. However, the side effects and the drug interactions of these two drugs are not the same.
However, tamsulosin is not a primary option to treat erectile dysfunction. If you take tamsulosin for erectile dysfunction, you may experience side effects, including untimely ejaculation. Unlike Viagra, tamsulosin does not directly address erectile dysfunction in men. However, tamsulosin manages a few cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions like Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) by improving blood flow and controlling breathlessness.
Tamsulosin can also help patients with diabetes mellitus; and helps elderly manage the symptoms well. Health issues such as kidney stones and prostatitis are well-handled by tamsulosin.
Tamsulosin – when combined with Dutasteride – treats men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland i.e. benign prostatic hyperplasia.
How To Take Tamsulosin Safely?
Tamsulosin’s primary function is to relax your prostate gland muscles. This increases urine-flow and lets you pass urine without discomforts.
You get tamsulosin as an oral capsule. One capsule per day is a common dosage. You must take tamsulosin half-an-hour prior to a meal. Tamsulosin may not offer a permanent cure; it assists in controlling the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Your caregiver may tell you to continue doses for some time and then gradually lessen the strength before bringing the doses to a stop. Such practices prevent adverse side effects from kicking in.
What Do Research Studies Show About Tamsulosin?
A research study found men with lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction – due to benign prostatic hyperplasia – who used tamsulosin witnessed sizable improvement in their sexual desire, erectile function, and lovemaking.
Another research study revealed men with lower urinary tract symptoms – due to BPH – experienced a significant boost in their erectile function when using tamsulosin in combination with Tadalafil (Cialis) or separately.
Side Effects Of Tamsulosin And Viagra
Both Viagra and tamsulosin come with a few precautions you need to strictly adhere to. You should not use tamsulosin as a combination with other alpha-adrenergic blockers. Such uses can interact with other drugs, leading to adverse effects. Likewise – while taking Viagra with other alpha blockers or anti-hypertensives, you should exercise needful caution.
You may experience a few potential side effects using tamsulosin. Unlike Viagra, you might experience ejaculatory dysfunction which is a common side effect caused by the use of tamsulosin. This includes retrograde ejaculation (a condition where your semen enters your bladder instead of exiting through urethra), or decreased ejaculation.
You might even experience lightheadedness, fainting, dizziness, and a spinning sensation. This happens when you try to get-up suddenly from a sitting or lying position. Others include anemia (decreased count of red cells), increased triglycerides, drop in white blood cells, etc.
For Viagra, you get facial flushing, rash, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, decreased blood pressure, fainting, etc. One common side effect of both which could be serious is priapism – a condition where you experience a prolonged erection lasting for several hours.
However, whether you take tamsulosin or Viagra, your initial dose will have more effect on your system. Once your system gets used to the drug, these side effects may slowly disappear.
Points You Need To Know About Tamsulosin
You must inform your caregiver of medications you take at present. This is not a drug for females and there is no approval from any medical body or the Food and Drug Administration to authorize its use in females. However, physicians administer tamsulosin as an off-label drug (a drug originally approved only to cure a certain type of condition as directed by its manufacturer) for treating other health conditions in females.
Tamsulosin treats difficulties females experience in emptying their bladder while peeing. Tamsulosin is beneficial to most females suffering from voiding dysfunction. It also helps females with certain types of kidney stones; it helps women pass kidney stones by relaxing their ureter. This makes women urinate without much discomforts.
Tamsulosin uses in females are completely through off-label mode. Postoperative Urinary Retention (POUR) in females is a common condition often treated by Tamsulosin effectively. It helps prevent urinary retention – especially after a pelvic reconstructive surgery, as it relaxes muscles in their urinary tract.
When you buy tamsulosin you have to carefully go through the instructions printed on the pack to know the exact details of this drug. Moreover, you can consult with your caregiver or pharmacist for any added clarifications you may need regarding intake of this drug.
A lower dose of tamsulosin is often the right way to start your medication plan. Then your physician will gradually increase the dosage strength after few weeks – based on your system’s acceptance and / or resistance shown to this drug. Therefore, the increase in dosage strength mainly depends on your system’s behavior towards this drug and the drug’s efficacy in treating urinary conditions. You however should not self-medicate tamsulosin or take it through the over-the-counter route.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Reffered
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/tamsulosin-oral-route/description/drg-20068275
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a698012.html
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18721208/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19711-tamsulosin-capsules
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
Key Points
– Both Tamsulosin – an alpha-blocker/alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist and Sildenafil are reliable medications caregivers administer to treat urinary disorders i.e. difficulty peeing
– Patients with an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) find relief after using tamsulosin. On the other hand, Viagra (sildenafil) is a medication to treat impotence or Erectile Dysfunction (ED) in men. However, both are not the same; apart from their uses in treating other health conditions individually, they both can treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
– Tamsulosin also individually works effectively in patients suffering with mild to severe Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) – a condition associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia
– Available only with a registered prescription, you cannot buy tamsulosin without your certified healthcare provider’s prescription
Tamsulosin – is a prescription drug used in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP) i.e. benign enlargement of prostate in men. This condition usually affects men in their old age.
Viagra – a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE-5 inhibitor) treats impotence and a symptom of benign prostatic hyperplasia which is not as same as what tamsulosin treats.
Both tamsulosin and Viagra are available in generic forms. However, the side effects and the drug interactions of these two drugs are not the same.
However, tamsulosin is not a primary option to treat erectile dysfunction. If you take tamsulosin for erectile dysfunction, you may experience side effects, including untimely ejaculation. Unlike Viagra, tamsulosin does not directly address erectile dysfunction in men. However, tamsulosin manages a few cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions like Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) by improving blood flow and controlling breathlessness.
Tamsulosin can also help patients with diabetes mellitus; and helps elderly manage the symptoms well. Health issues such as kidney stones and prostatitis are well-handled by tamsulosin.
Tamsulosin – when combined with Dutasteride – treats men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland i.e. benign prostatic hyperplasia.
How To Take Tamsulosin Safely?
Tamsulosin’s primary function is to relax your prostate gland muscles. This increases urine-flow and lets you pass urine without discomforts.
You get tamsulosin as an oral capsule. One capsule per day is a common dosage. You must take tamsulosin half-an-hour prior to a meal. Tamsulosin may not offer a permanent cure; it assists in controlling the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Your caregiver may tell you to continue doses for some time and then gradually lessen the strength before bringing the doses to a stop. Such practices prevent adverse side effects from kicking in.
What Do Research Studies Show About Tamsulosin?
A research study found men with lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction – due to benign prostatic hyperplasia – who used tamsulosin witnessed sizable improvement in their sexual desire, erectile function, and lovemaking.
Another research study revealed men with lower urinary tract symptoms – due to BPH – experienced a significant boost in their erectile function when using tamsulosin in combination with Tadalafil (Cialis) or separately.
Side Effects Of Tamsulosin And Viagra
Both Viagra and tamsulosin come with a few precautions you need to strictly adhere to. You should not use tamsulosin as a combination with other alpha-adrenergic blockers. Such uses can interact with other drugs, leading to adverse effects. Likewise – while taking Viagra with other alpha blockers or anti-hypertensives, you should exercise needful caution.
You may experience a few potential side effects using tamsulosin. Unlike Viagra, you might experience ejaculatory dysfunction which is a common side effect caused by the use of tamsulosin. This includes retrograde ejaculation (a condition where your semen enters your bladder instead of exiting through urethra), or decreased ejaculation.
You might even experience lightheadedness, fainting, dizziness, and a spinning sensation. This happens when you try to get-up suddenly from a sitting or lying position. Others include anemia (decreased count of red cells), increased triglycerides, drop in white blood cells, etc.
For Viagra, you get facial flushing, rash, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, decreased blood pressure, fainting, etc. One common side effect of both which could be serious is priapism – a condition where you experience a prolonged erection lasting for several hours.
However, whether you take tamsulosin or Viagra, your initial dose will have more effect on your system. Once your system gets used to the drug, these side effects may slowly disappear.
Points You Need To Know About Tamsulosin
You must inform your caregiver of medications you take at present. This is not a drug for females and there is no approval from any medical body or the Food and Drug Administration to authorize its use in females. However, physicians administer tamsulosin as an off-label drug (a drug originally approved only to cure a certain type of condition as directed by its manufacturer) for treating other health conditions in females.
Tamsulosin treats difficulties females experience in emptying their bladder while peeing. Tamsulosin is beneficial to most females suffering from voiding dysfunction. It also helps females with certain types of kidney stones; it helps women pass kidney stones by relaxing their ureter. This makes women urinate without much discomforts.
Tamsulosin uses in females are completely through off-label mode. Postoperative Urinary Retention (POUR) in females is a common condition often treated by Tamsulosin effectively. It helps prevent urinary retention – especially after a pelvic reconstructive surgery, as it relaxes muscles in their urinary tract.
When you buy tamsulosin you have to carefully go through the instructions printed on the pack to know the exact details of this drug. Moreover, you can consult with your caregiver or pharmacist for any added clarifications you may need regarding intake of this drug.
A lower dose of tamsulosin is often the right way to start your medication plan. Then your physician will gradually increase the dosage strength after few weeks – based on your system’s acceptance and / or resistance shown to this drug. Therefore, the increase in dosage strength mainly depends on your system’s behavior towards this drug and the drug’s efficacy in treating urinary conditions. You however should not self-medicate tamsulosin or take it through the over-the-counter route.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Reffered
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/tamsulosin-oral-route/description/drg-20068275
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a698012.html
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18721208/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19711-tamsulosin-capsules
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
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