How Effective Is Cialis for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment?

Besides erectile dysfunction, Cialis (tadalafil) is used against prostate enlargement, the official name of which is benign prostatic hyperplasia. This is the only product from the family of PDE5 inhibitors that has been officially approved for use for these purposes and that can be securely taken on a daily basis (thanks to minor dosages of the active ingredient, in contrary to other PDE5i meds).

What is BPH and What Symptoms Can It Cause?

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the gland in size. As a rule, the probability of getting sick with BPH increases with age. Such non-encouraging statistics are linked to age-related hormonal fluctuations. When the disease develops, a benign tumor in the prostate increases in size and leads to the appearance of the following unpleasant symptoms:

• frequent urination
• urination at night, which leads to recurring visits to the toilet at night and the incapability to sleep well (according to the International Continence Society this condition is called nocturia)
• weakening of stream pressure, weak and intermittent stream of urine
• the need to immediately urinate after the urge (the so-called imperative urges)
• feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder
• the need for straining when urinating
• urinary incontinence with overflowing bladder

How Does Cialis Work in This Case?

In impotence, this medication works by increasing the level of the cGMP substance through an inhibitory effect on the cGMP-degrading enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 (shortly PDE5). cGMP increasingly boosts blood flow to the genitals. Also, this substance helps to relax muscle tissues in other places the body, including bladder and prostate, relieving tension. This may alleviate the relief of symptoms of BPH in patients.

The usual advised dosage of Cialis for BPH is 5 milligrams.

A closely related topic (must read): Cialis Daily vs. Regular Cialis

How Long Does It Take for Cialis to Remove the Symptoms of BPH?

According to information on the official website of Cialis (which was maintained by the manufacturer but is now closed, most likely because the company had lost the exclusive right to manufacture drugs based on tadalafil), it can take up to 1 month for the patient to feel an easement in symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, results can be seen in just two weeks.

What do scientists think about this? Thus, Kevin T. McVary (MD) in an article published in The Journal of Urology in 2015 indicates that 60–70% of men who took part in the experimentation and consumed Cialis had a clinical improvement in their urinary symptoms.

However, approximately 50 percent of respondents reported improvement after 1 week of treatment and approximately 70% felt relief by 4-week ‘deadline’. Thus, these data almost completely coincide with information from the developers of the drug. Mr. McVary reasonably offered a thirty-day trial period for the use of the medication for these purposes. If after a month there is no adequate response to therapy, most likely the positive effect will not appear in the future, so one need to look for an alternative.

Limitations for Use

There are several absolute contraindications to the administration of Cialis:

• the consumption of medications called nitrates, which are often prescribed to combat chest pain caused by heart angina; this is because a combination of tadalafil and a nitrate-containing drug (such as nitroglycerin or isosorbide dinitrate) can lead to an unsafe and sometimes even fatal drop in blood pressure
• the use of guanylate cyclase stimulant drugs, such as Adempas, which are designed to combat pulmonary hypertension, for the identical reasons as indicated in the previous bulleted point (a possible blood pressure plummeting)
• allergic to tadalafil or any of the auxiliary components of the medication

An important point: previously, the manufacturer of the drug (Eli Lilly) recommended using Cialis in five-milligram dose for handling urinary symptoms (also known as LUTS) of BPH which coexists with erection disorder. But the drug can also be useful as a remedy to treat exclusively BPH (after medical advice).

Are Side Effects Possible?

Like any other medicinal remedy, this one can cause a number of side effects. Dangerous interplay can sometimes occur if the drug is combined with other medicines and alcoholic refreshments. Consult your doctor if you are administering other prescription drugs. Common adverse events include headaches, upset stomach, and abdominal pain. Cold symptoms and facial flushing may also occur. Typically, these symptoms do not require medical attention. Side effects are infrequent and transitory if the drug is administered in recommended doses, moreover, adequacy and reliableness of medications prescribed is a overriding thing, and that is expressly what this medication guarantees. It had been tested for several years afore getting approval from the FDA.

Summary

Cialis is effective in most cases of unpleasant symptoms of BPH affecting the urinary system. However, a relatively small proportion of patients may not feel proper effectiveness. Then they need to ask the doctor to replace the medication with a suitable substitute.

*Consulting with a licensed healthcare professional in your own country is always recommended before considering purchasing medications online.