Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition as men get older, said Dr. Neil Baum, of New Orleans, Louisiana, who in this video explains the daily use of low doses of the drug Cialis to address problems related to BPH.
The walnut-size prostate provides nutrients to the sperm, making it possible to fertilize an egg. But for reasons not fully understood, Baum explains in the video, the gland often enlarges as men age and compresses the urethra — the tube from the bladder to the outside of body. Baum said this can cause a decrease in the force and caliber of the urinary stream, dribbling after urination, straining to urinate, increased frequency of urination, and having to get up in the middle of the night to empty the bladder.
The physician explains that the first line of treatment for BPH, which is also known as enlarged prostate, is medication or minimally invasive procedures, while there are also surgical options. Cialis (tadalafil) is approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Baum said the mechanism of action of Cialis is not fully understood, but it is thought to relax the muscles in the prostate, which results in decreased pressure to the urethra.
Cialis has been studied by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly as an initial treatment for erectile dysfunction in patients with BPH for 26 weeks in combination with finasteride and has been shown effective in decreasing the symptoms. However, the treatment has side effects, including back pain, occasional muscle aches, facial flushing, nasal conjection, and rarely, an erection that lasts more than four hours, which requires an emergency room visit.
“Tadalafil belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors,” explains the National Institutes of Health. “These medicines prevent an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type-5 from working too quickly. The penis is one of the areas where this enzyme works,” the NIH adds. “By controlling the enzyme, tadalafil helps to maintain an erection after the penis is stroked by increasing blood flow to the penis. Without physical action to the penis, such as that occurring during sexual intercourse, tadalafil will not work to cause an erection.”
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