Can Flomax affect men's sexual function?
Ask the doctor
Q. What effect does Flomax have on sexual function?
A. Tamsulosin (Flomax) is a medication to help men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Doctors call this condition benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short. The drug works by relaxing the smooth muscles in the bladder and prostate area, allowing better flow of urine through the urethra and decreasing the sensation that you need to urinate often.
Tamsulosin and another commonly prescribed BPH drug called alfuzosin (Uroxatral) are known as alpha blockers. Alpha blockers may cause ejaculatory disturbances, such as a decrease in the volume of the ejaculate. Some men find that these medications decrease their ability to maintain an erection. The two side effects can occur together or separately.
It's important to appreciate that many men who take these medicines are often in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, when sexual activity tends to diminish. So what is perceived as a drug side effect may have occurred even if the man was not taking an alpha blocker.
Also, some men who take an alpha blocker may also be taking additional BPH drugs such as finasteride (Proscar) or dutasteride (Avodart) — medicines that can decrease sexual activity and cause further decreases in ejaculatory volume by themselves.
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About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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