Finasteride vs. Tamsulosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Finasteride

(Proscar)

Tamsulosin

Summary for Finasteride

Prescription only

Finasteride (Proscar) is a medication used alone or with doxazosin (Cardura) to treat men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It’s typically recommended for those with an enlarged prostate who also have symptoms, such as problems urinating. But it can take up to 6 months to work. Luckily, the medication comes as a lower-cost generic option.

Indications for Finasteride

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Relieves urinary symptoms
Lessens the need for prostate surgery

Pros and Cons for Finasteride

Pros

Works to relieve symptoms in people with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Doesn’t interact with many medications
Can be used in people who have kidney problems

Cons

Some men might have sexual side effects like inability to have an erection
Typically used as a long-term therapy
Requires regular prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests

Common Side Effects for Finasteride

Finasteride (Proscar) daily treatment by itself:

Inability to have an erection (5-8%)
Lower sex drive (3-6%)
Decrease in ejaculation amount (2-4%)

Finasteride (Proscar) taken with doxazosin (Cardura)*:

Dizziness (23%)
Inability to have an erection (23%)
Low blood pressure when getting up (18%)
Feeling tired (17%)
Abnormal ejaculation (14%)
Lower sex drive (12%)

*Since both finasteride (Proscar) and doxazosin (Cardura) were both taken daily, side effects might not be entirely due to finasteride (Proscar).

Warnings for Finasteride

Harm to unborn baby
Lowered prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels
High-risk prostate cancer

Summary for Tamsulosin

Prescription only

Tamsulosin is an alpha-1 blocker used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. It works by relaxing the muscles in your prostate and bladder, making it easier to urinate. The medication comes as a capsule that you take once a day, usually 30 minutes after the same meal each day. Side effects include headache, dizziness, and abnormal ejaculation.

Indications for Tamsulosin

Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH)

Pros and Cons for Tamsulosin

Pros

Is a first-choice treatment option for BPH
Taken by mouth once a day
Typically starts to work right away
Less likely to cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when changing positions compared to similar medications

Cons

Relieves symptoms of an enlarged prostate but doesn’t affect prostate growth
Needs to be taken once a day, 30 minutes after the same meal
Can have negative side effects on your sexual health
Might not be the best option for people with a sulfa allergy

Common Side Effects for Tamsulosin

Headache (19-21%)
Stuffy nose (13-18%)
Abnormal ejaculation (8-18%)
Dizziness (15-17%)
Infection (9-11%)

Warnings for Tamsulosin

Sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing
Interactions with other medications
Prolonged and painful erection
Eye problems
Severe allergic reactions

Prices with our coupons for Finasteride vs. Tamsulosin

Finasteride90 tablets / 5mg

$19.88$104.18

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Tamsulosin30 capsules / 0.4mg

$9.90$13.14

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Finasteride vs. Tamsulosin

Finasteride

Tamsulosin

Summary for Finasteride

Indications for Finasteride

Pros and Cons for Finasteride

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Finasteride

Warnings for Finasteride

Summary for Tamsulosin

Indications for Tamsulosin

Pros and Cons for Tamsulosin

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Tamsulosin

Warnings for Tamsulosin

Prices with our coupons for Finasteride vs. Tamsulosin

Compare other Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia drugs

Browse medications by letter

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Finasteride

Tamsulosin

Summary for Finasteride

Indications for Finasteride

Pros and Cons for Finasteride

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Finasteride

Warnings for Finasteride

Summary for Tamsulosin

Indications for Tamsulosin

Pros and Cons for Tamsulosin

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Tamsulosin

Warnings for Tamsulosin