Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause symptoms such as the urgent need to urinate or waking multiple times a night to pee. Treatment can relieve symptoms, and many people turn to Cialis for BPH before exploring procedures to address an enlarged prostate. This post explains how this medication impacts men with symptomatic BPH.
When you have BPH, the cause of your prostate enlargement is unclear. Depending on the severity of your condition, your BPH symptoms may be mild or extremely disruptive. As such, many men can manage their condition with changes to their diet and lifestyle. But others may turn to medications such as Cialis, or other medical interventions.
Cialis (or tadafil, as it’s known generically) was first developed to address erectile dysfunction. In 2011, however, the FDA approved Cialis for BPH treatment, based on studies such as this that showed its effectiveness at relieving lower urinary tract symptoms associated with prostate enlargement.
How does it work? Basically, Cialis increases cGMP levels in the body, increasing blood flow to your penis while relaxing your prostate and bladder muscles. As a result, when taken once daily, at the same time each day, the medication can make it easier to start urinary flow. It can also reduce night-time wakings to urinate. As an added bonus, the medication can improve male sexual function for 36 hours after taking each Cialis dose.
Cialis side effects are typically mild, and include headaches; stomach upset; back or muscle pain; facial flushing; and a stuffy nose. But if you take nitrates or medication to lower your blood pressure, avoid Cialis, as it will increase your risk for a sudden, potentially dangerous drop in blood pressure.
While many men with BPH enjoy an improved quality of life when taking Cialis, there are other treatment options for men who cannot tolerate this medication, or those who do not experience sufficient relief from their prescription. In such cases, our specialists at the Texas Prostate institute encourage you to request a consultation [/tx-appt link] with our team of interventional to learn more about Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE treatment) and to learn whether you’re a candidate for this intervention. As a minimally invasive procedure, PAE treatment benefits include symptom relief and the ability to avoid large surgical incisions, general anesthesia and overnight hospitals.
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