<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;At one time or another, we&amp;amp;#39;ve all had a good chuckle about erectile dysfunction medications like &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a699015.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sildenafil &amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;(Viagra) and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a604008.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;tadalafil &amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;(Cialis).\u00A0 But chuckle as we may, these medications are remarkably effective at helping men with sexual and erectile dysfunction.\u00A0 New research and clinical guidelines suggest yet another use for these medications: co-administration with drugs like &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a698016.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;finasteride (Proscar)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a603001.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;dutasteride (Avodart)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, which are 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors used to treat &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/enlargedprostatebph.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;benign prostatic hyperplasia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (BPH).\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;More specifically, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and alpha blockers, another type of BPH drug, do a number on a man&amp;amp;#39;s libido and ability to maintain an erection--an adverse effect counteracted by erectile dysfunction meds like Cialis.\u00A0 &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://1.usa.gov/1o6Y03v&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Moreover, in 2011, the FDA approved Cialis for treatment of BPH symptoms, too (think difficulty with urination).&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0 Thus, Cialis is doubly beneficial in those with BPH!&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you have BPH, you probably need no introduction to its inconvenient, annoying and sometimes very serious symptoms.\u00A0 However, for all of us who are uninitiated, here&amp;amp;#39;s some info on this condition.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a noncancerous (nonmalignant) enlargement of the prostate gland.\u00A0 In men, the prostate makes semen.\u00A0 In men with BPH, the prostate can become 10 times larger and cause urinary obstruction.\u00A0 Of note, the prostate is a doughnut-shaped gland which surrounds the urethra or &amp;amp;#34;pee&amp;amp;#34; tube; the prostate sits just below the bladder.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Although &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/prostate-cancer-4014662&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;prostate cancer&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; also involves hypertrophy and hyperplasia and many of the same initial symptoms as &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://abt.cm/1ChEdHu&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;BPH&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, BPH isn&amp;amp;#39;t cancer.\u00A0 It&amp;amp;#39;s a benign condition which most men aged 50 or older experience to some degree.\u00A0 Moreover, BPH likely confers no additional risk of developing prostate cancer.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In most men, BPH is asymptomatic and causes no recognizable symptoms\u00A0 About one-third of American men, however, can experience the following initial symptoms:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;frequent urge to urinate (urinary frequency) especially at night&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;weak urine stream which starts and stops&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;feeling that you still have to pee even after you just finished urinating&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;trouble initiating a urine stream (hesitancy)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;a touch of blood in the urine&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Over time, BPH can lead to more serious problems such as urinary tract infections, kidney and bladder damage.\u00A0 (The obstruction caused by a hyperplastic prostate can cause urine backup which damages the kidney and bladder.)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Initial treatment for BPH is &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article&amp;amp;#61;1&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;medical&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; with surgery (&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/turp-procedure-for-prostate-cancer-2782246&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;TURP&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;) reserved for people who fail medication therapy.\u00A0 Men with symptomatic BPH typically receive two types of medications: alpha blockers (think terazosin or doxazosin) and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like the aforementioned Proscar and Avodart.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The astute reader may notice that both types of BPH medications contain &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;alpha &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;in their names; however, the mechanisms of these drugs are completely different.\u00A0 Alpha blockers relax smooth muscle in the bladder neck and prostate in order to improve urine flow and relieve urinary obstruction.\u00A0 Whereas, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors target the hormonal underpinnings of BPH and not only help with urinary flow, but, if taken long enough, can actually shrink the prostate and postpone the need for surgery.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Adding Cialis to the mix&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For reasons we can all probably appreciate, a big complaint among many men receiving treatment with alpha blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors or both is that in 5 to 15 percent of gents such meds mess with erectile function, libido and ejaculation.\u00A0 To counteract this unwanted adverse effect, urologists and primary care physicians have started adding Cialis to the medication mix.\u00A0 Furthermore, in 2011, the FDA had already approved Cialis for treatment of BPH symptoms, too.\u00A0 Thus, in men with BPH, Cialis demonstrates double efficacy--it helps with urination, &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;and &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;it helps with erectile dysfunction.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fortunately, the science supports the practice of adding drugs chiefly aimed at erectile dysfunction to BPH medication regimens.\u00A0 In a huge randomized-control trial sponsored by Eli Lilly, makers of Cialis (go figure), 695 men were given either Cialis or placebo in addition to the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Results were very encouraging with statistical significant improvements in sexual desire, orgasmic function, erectile function and overall sexual satisfaction observed in those taking Cialis with finasteride.\u00A0 Moreover, adverse effects were few and tolerable.\u00A0 Results were measured at 4, 12 and 26 weeks of therapy using a questionnaire titled the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.hiv.va.gov/provider/manual-primary-care/urology-tool2.asp&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;International Index of Erectile Function&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;As can be expected from many studies using big Pharma funds, research design for this study was pretty tight. \u00A0 Aside from placebo effects, potential limitations for this study include no proven validity that the International Index of Erectile Function was useful when measuring ejaculatory and orgasmic dysfunction and the relatively brief treatment period.\u00A0 Of note, researchers looked only at Cialis co-administration with a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor not an alpha blocker, too.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Closing Thoughts&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you or someone you love is experiencing sexual difficulties secondary to BPH medications like finasteride and aren&amp;amp;#39;t already on Cialis, be sure to tell your primary care physician or urologist.\u00A0 The addition of Cialis to your treatment regimen is safe and tolerable and should help with your sex life and symptoms of BPH itself.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;On a related note, because of its hormonal effects, lower-dose finasteride is also marketed as Propecia, a drug given for hair loss.\u00A0 Although people who typically take Propecia are younger men with fewer erectile dysfunction issues, and Propecia is lower dose than Proscar, Propecia may also interfere with sexual functioning.\u00A0 If you&amp;amp;#39;re taking finasteride to prevent hair loss and are experiencing erectile dysfunction or libidinal problems, be sure to inform your prescribing physician.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;cite&amp;gt;Selected Sources&amp;lt;/cite&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;cite&amp;gt;Article&amp;lt;/cite&amp;gt;&amp;lt;cite&amp;gt; titled &amp;amp;#34;Sexual Function in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Prostatic Enlargement Secondary to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Results of a 6-Month, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Tadalafil Coadministered with Finasteride&amp;amp;#34; by S. &amp;lt;/cite&amp;gt;&amp;lt;cite&amp;gt;Glina&amp;lt;/cite&amp;gt;&amp;lt;cite&amp;gt; and co-authors published in the &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Journal of Sexual Medicine&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; (2014).&amp;lt;/cite&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;cite&amp;gt;Fode M, S\u00F8nksen J, McPhee SJ, Ohl DA. Disorders of the Male Reproductive Tract. In: Hammer GD, McPhee SJ. eds. &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine, Seventh Edition&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;. &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013. Accessed 1/21/2015.&amp;lt;/cite&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/tadalafil-helps-twice-with-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-1123906>