Tamsulosin – popularly sold under the brand name Flomax – is a drug used for treating prostate related disorders. Can it be used to treat male impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED)? Does it have the capabilities of drugs such as Cialis – which are used to treat erectile dysfunction as well as prostate related problems? A thorough knowledge of the capabilities of Tamsulosin can help understand.
Nearly 25 million people living in US are known to suffer from urges to urinate often. All over the world, about 200 million people are reported to have this medical condition. The clinical name for this condition is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The most usual signs of this disorder are a weak flow of urine, difficulties in urinating, etc. This condition is triggered by an enlarged prostate. It is often considered to occur to among aged men.
The urethra is the tube which transports semen and urine through the penis. Prostate is found surrounding this tube. In conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlargement of the prostate exerts pressure on your urethra. It is when you find your urine coming out as a very thin stream. The other signs include inability to control an urge to pee, waking very often in the night for peeing, an unfinished feeling of not having passed urine in full (this feeling may arise even after peeing), etc.
Doctors diagnose this by employing multiple ways. Some of the key approaches used are rectal observation (done by inserting a gloved finger in your rectum to know the shape and size of prostate), urine sample tests, blood tests specific to your prostate (called as prostate-specific antigen test), tests on blood samples (to check for problems in your kidneys), etc.
What is Tamsulosin used for?
This drug is administered to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – an enlarged prostate. It is also used for conditions such as chronic prostatitis (also known as chronic pain in the pelvic areas). This drug’s main function is to inhibit a few substances (known as alpha-1 receptors) and thus relieve your prostate as well as bladder muscles. This activity brings about a relief in passing of urine as well as helps passage of stones in your kidneys. It is a commonly used drug to treat frequent urination, difficulties experienced while urinating, weakened stream of urine, etc. This drug belongs to a family of drugs known as alpha blockers.
The most common side effects of Tamsulosin are nausea, vomiting, dizziness and tiredness. You are advised not to take this drug if you have hypersensitivity or any known allergies to this medication, eye related disorders, problems associated with your liver, drop in your blood pressure, etc. As this drug can make you drowsy, do are supposed to take it before performing activities – such as driving or operating heavy machinery; in short, activities that may need high level of mental agility.
This medicine is not be used for treating hypertension or high blood pressure. This is because Tamsulosin can trigger a decrease in your blood pressure. It is often advised to take Tamsulosin by following a regular medication plan. In order to get better results, it is recommended to consume this drug at the same time every day.
Is Tamsulosin used for treating Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?
Tamsulosin is not used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) or male impotence. ED is treated through multiple methods; the most common ones are the intake of drugs, penile implants or a surgery (this is done very rarely though). Drugs commonly administered to treat ED are Cialis (tadalafil),
Viagra (sildenafil), Stendra (avanafil), Levitra (vardenafil), etc.
These medicines belong to a genre of drugs called phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. PDE-5 is a substance which prevents your blood vessels from being relaxed or enlarged. In other words, its main activity is to make sure your blood vessels stay contracted. The drugs which control or inhibit PDE-5 mainly work to limit the production of this substance in your body. Once this substance is blocked, your blood vessels continue to remain at an enlarged state for a few hours.
So, how do drugs treating ED work?
As mentioned – the most common medications prescribed to treat ED are Viagra (sildenafil), Stendra (avanafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Levitra (vardenafil), etc. The key activities triggered by PDE-5 inhibiting medications are (1) relaxation of your muscles in the penile area (2) facilitation of added flow of blood and (3) thus helping you maintain an erected penis during a sexual performance.
Intake of these drugs may cause a few side effects; the most common side effects are weakness, blurring of vision, headache, indigestion, vomiting, drowsiness, etc. These drugs can make you dizzy. Hence, it is not recommended to work on machinery, drive your vehicle, etc. Your doctor may tell you to stay away activities that may need a very high level of concentration and physical strength. It is also advised to not take these ED drugs if you have any known allergies or hypersensitivity to it. Above all, ensure that you do not have a recent history of heart attacks or stroke.
There are two substances that play an important role in altering nerve messages to boost or reduce the circulation of blood. These substances are (a) nitric oxide and (b) cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Nitric oxide is made at the nerve-ends; this boosts the production of cGMP. It is cGMP that plays a key role in relaxing your blood vessels and in facilitating better flow of blood.
It is recommended to consult your treating doctor on all likely interactions with other medications or foods. These interactions can be triggered if ED drugs are taken along with other drugs or foods you may take – such as grapefruit juice, etc. It is highly recommended to keep your doctor informed on the intake of non-prescription medications, OTCs, and health supplements like minerals, vitamins, if any.
How to contain the costs of ED pills?
Prices at which you buy ED pills may depend on your plan’s coverage, co-pays for prescriptions as well as the pharmacy from which you choose to buy the drug. However, there are ways and means by which you can control the price at which you purchase ED pills. Among the approaches used, the following are widely used-
#(1) Check with your treating physician if you can split your pill. This can work if you procure a pill with a high level of dose and split it to bring it down to a dosage level prescribed to you,
#(2) Explore discounts offered by drug makers. At times, you can run into a good program that extends ED pills at good bargains. Though the quantity offered through such sale is not much, such deals can only add on to your savings and
#(3) Before zeroing-in the pharmacy, search for vendors (pharmacies) that offer ED pills at lower costs than others. In order to do an effective comparison, you can use service providers who compare price lists. These service providers can help you buy from a pharmacy offering the best possible deal to you.
In sum, Tamsulosin is not a drug used for the treatment of male impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED). Instead, ED is treated through several other methods; the most common among them are administration of ED drugs (these are more common) or surgical implants. Medicines commonly taken are Stendra (avanafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Viagra (sildenafil), etc.
These ED drugs belong to a family of medications known as phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. PDE-5 is an enzyme that prevents blood vessels from being enlarged. Once this natural enzyme is inhibited, your blood vessels continue to stay at an enlarged state supplying more blood to your penis. As a result, you are likely to experience a stiff erection of your penis and a more satisfying sexual experience.
Costs of ED pills can be influenced by co-pays for prescriptions, the pharmacy from which you choose to buy the drug and the coverage as per your plan. There are a few ways through which you can contain the costs at which you procure ED pills. You can check with your doctor about buying a high level of dose and then splitting it to bring to the level prescribed dosage level. Makers of drugs may offer discounts on ED pills. These discounts can help you save on price. It is also a good idea to search for pharmacies that offer these drugs at prices lower than other pharmacies. There are websites that can compare costs and can provide the best possible deal. It is a good idea to use such web services to buy ED drugs at competitive prices.
Regardless of where you buy, always remember that intake of these ED drugs can trigger a few side effects such as blurring of eyesight, headache, weariness, indigestion, drowsiness, etc. It is also advised to not take these ED drugs if you have any known allergies or hypersensitivity to them. Also, ensure that you do not have a medical history of stroke or cardiac disorders.
Education: Master’s in Clinical Nutrition from Tufts University. Experience: 6 years of experience as a registered dietitian and freelance writer, creating content on nutritional science and weight management for various health websites.
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