Key takeaways
Finasteride (Propecia) and tamsulosin (Flomax) are both oral medications used to treat conditions related to male health, but they work in different ways and treat different conditions. Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor used to treat male pattern baldness by lowering levels of a hormone linked to hair loss. Tamsulosin, on the other hand, is an alpha-1 blocker used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by relaxing muscles in the prostate and bladder to ease urination. Finasteride is taken once daily and is available as a lower-cost generic, while tamsulosin is also taken once daily but specifically 30 minutes after the same meal each day. Common side effects of finasteride include sexual problems like lower sex drive and erectile dysfunction, whereas tamsulosin can cause dizziness, headache, and abnormal ejaculation. Tamsulosin has more potential drug interactions, especially with medications for erectile dysfunction, which can lead to low blood pressure. Finasteride is not recommended for women, especially those who are pregnant, due to risks to an unborn baby boy.
