Is Tamsulosin similar to Viagra?

Is Tamsulosin similar to Viagra?
Steve Hinson, PhD - Life Sciences Published : Feb 04, 2024 Last Updated : Feb 07, 2024

A number of men above the age of 70 years usually experience some symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Though, there is good news that medicines like Tamsulosin help to deal with symptoms of BPH effectively.

As a BPH patient, you might also think about whether Tamsulosin and Viagra offer the same benefits.

Several patients who take Tamsulosin often wonder whether Tamsulosin works like Viagra to treat BPH symptoms.

Well, in this blog, you will know the difference between these two medications. 

What is Tamsulosin?

Tamsulosin is an effective drug to treat an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms.

This medicine might not shrink your prostate but will gradually calm down the bladder and prostate muscles.

Doctors prescribe Tamsulosin to treat various BPH symptoms like poor urine, frequent or urgent urination.

As an alpha-blocker, tamsulosin can improve your erection quality, sexual pleasure, and sexual longing as well.

What is Viagra pill?

Viagra belongs to a class of medications called PDE5 inhibitors and contains sildenafil citrate as its active ingredient.

Men above the age of 18 years can use this medication to get relief from their erectile dysfunction disorder.

However, doctors also prescribe Viagra to treat BPH or Benign prostatic hyperplasia problems in men.

Is Tamsulosin like Viagra?

Yes, Tamsulosin and Viagra are same because both medicines help to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

But these medications treat different symptoms of BPH.

What is more important that Tamsulosin and Viagra treat BPH symptoms by using completely diverse methods.

What are the major differences between Tamsulosin and Viagra?

The most common difference between Tamsulosin and Viagra is the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia they treat.

Tamsulosin is helpful for men finding difficulty in urinating because of enlarged prostates.

Instead, Viagra treats erectile dysfunction which is also one of the side effects of BPH condition.

Tamsulosin and Viagra also belong to different classes of medicines.

Tamsulosin is an alpha-blocker that helps your muscles to relax while, Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor that improved blood flow.

Both Tamsulosin and Viagra are considered effective drugs for treating BPH conditions.

But only Viagra is good at treating erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate.

Men experiencing enlarged prostate and taking Viagra can experience improvement in the symptoms which interfere with their sexual life.

Instead, Tamsulosin tablet is just for men experiencing the symptoms of BPH like urinating frequently, etc.

Is Viagra safe for patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia?

You can take Viagra pill to treat your signs of an enlarged prostate, if the doctor directs.

Does Tamsulosin also work like Viagra?

Viagra helps in relaxing your blood vessels and promotes improved circulation to the male sexual organ.

Once it enters your system, sildenafil becomes active in controlling the PDE-5 enzyme and allows you to maintain an erection.

If you think Tamsulosin helps to treat erectile dysfunction in the same way like Viagra does, then the answer is no.

Tamsulosin uses a completely different mechanism and turns its attention to the alpha receptors.

This further relaxes the prostate and muscles present in your bladder neck.

In this way, you start experiencing a better flow of urine and decreased BPH symptoms.

So, can you take Tamsulosin for treating erectile dysfunction?

Some medicines for BPH can make it hard for men to maintain an erection.

Patients taking Terazosin and Doxazosin can experience decreased ejaculation. 

When compared to other medicines, a small dosage of Tamsulosin will not impact your sexual function negatively.

However, a higher dose can contribute to a bigger risk of ejaculatory dysfunction.

In case, you are thinking whether Tamsulosin helps with erectile dysfunction condition then not to that extent.

Viagra is always the best option, if you are looking for a medicine to treat your ED condition solely.

What are the side effects of Tamsulosin and Viagra?

Tamsulosin and Viagra are two different classes of medicines and work in different ways.

This is the reason, they share only one similar side effect i.e., prolonged erections (Priapism).

When it comes to Tamsulosin, the most common side effects include:

  • Changes in taste
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness

Men taking Tamsulosin might also experience a decrease in their white & red blood cells and increased body fat.

While Viagra often comes with more side effects, including:

  • Facial flushing
  • Stuffy nose
  • Dizziness
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Rashes

However, some men can also experience UTIs and temporary color blindness as side effects of Viagra.

Though Viagra might have mild side effects but Tamsulosin has the potential to cause more severe symptoms.

Low blood pressure and intraoperative floppy iris syndrome are rare but severe side effects of Tamsulosin.

Is it safe to take Viagra while taking Tamsulosin?

The most common question that often strikes the mind is, can I take Viagra and Tamsulosin at the same time?

Well, if you are taking an alpha blocker like Tamsulosin then you can use Viagra but the doctor will suggest a lower dosage.

In case, you end up taking Tamsulosin and Viagra together without decreasing the dose then your blood pressure will fall.

Can Tamsulosin pill affect Viagra?

Tamsulosin and Viagra work well together but only if you adjust the dosage properly.

Depending on your condition, the doctor can only prescribe you the best dose.

Though, Tamsulosin is not considered suitable for everyone, mainly for men with very low blood pressure.

Patients suffering from serious kidney or liver issues should not take Tamsulosin and Viagra together strictly.

Neither the men who are planning to undergo glaucoma or cataract surgery recently.

Thus, Tamsulosin is a potent medication for patients experiencing BPH and not able to urinate because of an enlarged prostate.

While Viagra helps to treat ED and allows you to get and maintain an erection.

So, before you plan to take any viagra or its generic medicines, make sure to consult the doctor once and then proceed further.a