tadalafil vs tamsulosin
Side-by-side comparison of tadalafil and tamsulosin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Clinical pharmacology studies have been conducted with coadministration of tadalafil with doxazosin, tamsulosin or alfuzosin.
Recommendation: Use this combination with caution and report any feelings of lightheadedness to your healthcare provider.
Cialis
Flomax
Tadalafil (Cialis) is a medicine that helps men with erectile dysfunction (ED) or enlarged prostate (BPH). It belongs to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors.
Tamsulosin (Flomax) helps to improve urination in men with enlarged prostate glands. It relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder, making it easier to urinate.
This medicine can help men who have trouble getting or keeping an erection (ED). It can also treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH can cause difficulty with urination.
This medicine treats the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH can cause problems with urination, like difficulty starting or stopping the flow of urine. Tamsulosin helps to relieve these symptoms.
Tadalafil works by relaxing the muscles in the penis and prostate. This increases blood flow to these areas. For BPH, it relaxes muscles in the prostate and bladder, which can improve urinary symptoms.
Tamsulosin blocks alpha-1 adrenoceptors in the prostate and bladder. These receptors control muscle tightness. By blocking them, tamsulosin relaxes the muscles, which improves urine flow.
- • Headache
- • Upset stomach
- • Back pain
- • Muscle aches
- • Nasal congestion
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Runny nose
- • Infection
- • Abnormal ejaculation
- Shortness of breath 11,663
- Headache 10,690
- Diarrhea 7,800
- Feeling sick to your stomach 6,498
- Death 5,896
- Tiredness 1,417
- Shortness of breath 1,332
- Feeling lightheaded 1,131
- Loose stools 1,121
- Head pain 883
If you have chest pain, tell your doctor. If you need nitrates for a heart problem, wait 48 hours after taking tadalafil before taking nitrates. If you get an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. If you have sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, stop taking this medicine and get medical help right away. If you have a sudden decrease or loss of hearing, stop taking this medicine and get medical help right away.
Tamsulosin can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up, leading to dizziness or fainting. Avoid situations where you could get hurt if you faint. Tell your eye doctor if you are planning to have cataract or glaucoma surgery, as tamsulosin can cause complications during the procedure. You should be screened for prostate cancer before starting tamsulosin and regularly after.
This medicine is not for use in women. It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.
This medicine is only for men. It is not meant to be used by women. There is no information about the safety of tamsulosin during pregnancy or breastfeeding because it is not used in women.
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How to Read This tadalafil vs tamsulosin Comparison
tadalafil is classified in the PDE5 Inhibitor drug class, while tamsulosin sits within the Alpha-1 Adrenergic Blocker class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, tadalafil has 42,547 submissions while tamsulosin has 5,884. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both medications can relax blood vessels, which may cause blood pressure to drop more than usual when they are used together.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between tadalafil and tamsulosin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.