Some ED medications may help with BPH symptoms. Learn about the connection between these two conditions and what medications may help with both.
Both erectile dysfunction and prostate enlargement conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are common ailments for men as they get older.
Erectile dysfunction and prostate enlargement are tied together in a way -- treatments for BPH often come along with the side effects of producing ED. But, there may be another connection here -- ED meds may also help with BPH symptoms too.
For these men who experience ED when being treated for prostate problems, they can sometimes use ED medications called PDE-5 inhibitors in order to help with the erectile issues that developed.
And, according to some studies, treating the ED with PDE-5 inhibitors may also be able to help improve BPH symptoms, effectively helping both conditions with 1 tablet.
Below, we will cover which ED medications are FDA approved for BPH treatment, the reason behind why ED meds may help with both situations, who may benefit from using ED medications for BPH, and if BPH and ED medications can be used together.
There are four major PDE-5 inhibitors that are used for ED treatment:
Out of these ED treatments, only Tadalafil is FDA approved for treating both erectile dysfunction and BPH.
However, depending on your doctor’s judgment, they may prescribe the other medications in this PDE-5 class for dual treatment of ED and BPH off-label. Most studies done on PDE-5 inhibitors for BPH have dealt with Sildenafil and Tadalafil.
When these PDE-5 inhibitors help with ED, they deal with the compounds nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP in your smooth muscle tissue. Both NO and cGMP help relax the smooth muscles in the penis to help produce an erection.
However, these relaxing compounds are quickly broken down by PDE-5 which deflates the erection. PDE-5 inhibitors help block the PDE-5, allowing the smooth muscles to stay relaxed for longer, producing a longer and stronger erection.
As it turns out, something similar occurs in the prostate. The bladder and the prostate can also be relaxed by NO and cGMP, and there is also PDE-5 in this area to break these relaxing chemicals down.
So, when PDE-5 inhibitors are taken by mouth, they not only can improve erections, they can help the smooth muscles in the bladder and prostate relax more, releasing some of the tension on the urethra and potentially helping with the urinary issues involved with BPH.
Not everyone is a good candidate for using PDE-5 inhibitors. If you take medications for heart problems like nitrates, have heart issues, or are at risk for too low blood pressure, these medications may not be for you.
However, for men who are able to take PDE-5 inhibitor ED medications, if they have both ED and BPH, they may be able to use these medications to help relieve symptoms from both issues at the same time.
Be sure to speak with your doctor before trying out something new or changing your medications. Even if you have both ED and BPH, using PDE-5 inhibitors may not be a good fit for you and your current conditions and medications.
Depending on your current health and other medications, you may be able to use ED medications like PDE-5 inhibitors alone for your BPH symptoms, or you may be able to use them along with your current BPH medications.
However, it is worth noting that common BPH medications like alpha-blockers may cause additive reduced blood pressure when used together with ED medications and may not be a good combination for you. Speak with your healthcare provider to see if the addition of a PDE-5 inhibitor works with your current medications.
Here at Strut Health, we carry medications for treating ED including Sildenafil and Tadalafil. If you are interested in seeing if Sildenafil or Tadalafil are good options for you, you can have a free online consultation with our U.S. licensed doctors today.
If you are a good candidate for ED treatment with these medications, the doctor can issue a prescription and your medication will be shipped from a U.S. licensed pharmacy to your front door with our free shipping.
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