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Flomax vs. Proscar

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.

• Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH)

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

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

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.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

• Relieves urinary symptoms
• Lessens the need for prostate surgery

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).

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