Prostate Therapy - What Are The Medication Options?

Treatment to reduce enlarged prostate gland (BPH) with drug medication is now widely used in Europe and the USA. It can also be used as part of a ‘watchful waiting' program which is backed up by annual tests and other examinations, rather than opting for surgery which in many cases is hardly necessary and may lead to incontinence and impotence (in a very small percentage of cases)

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The first type of drugs used are called Alpha Blockers.

Pros :- They help relax muscles not only in the prostate but also in the areas around the bladder thus making urination easier and less frequent. They work quickly and give almost immediate relief. They can also reduce blood pressure and were originally developed as a high pressure blood drug. They can reduce the incidence of urinary retention and blockage of the bladder.

Cons:- If you are about to have eye surgery, then taking these drugs could be problematic. Other side effects are dizziness - you can feel faint if you get up suddenly. They may cause nasal congestion in some patients. If you already have low blood pressure, then this drug will lower it even further (as in my case) so this can be a disadvantage - hard to get going in the mornings or when it is very hot. These drugs are not going to make the prostate smaller but they will alleviate symptoms.

Most Common Alpha Blockers:- The three most widely used alpha blocker medications approved by the FDA are : Hytrin ,Flomax and Uroxatral .

The second group are called Alpha- reductase Inhibitors.

Pros :- These actually will reduce the size of the prostate, so very widely used for older men who have very large prostates. As the drug kicks in (it will take several months), the symptoms will ease and the size of the enlarged gland will shrink a little. It can also help reduce bleeding when that is a symptom of BPH. These drugs may lessen chances of prostate cancer developing. A recent study of the most popular drug in this category (Finasteride) in a 7-year study of 18,000 men, conducted by the National Cancer Institute, found that men who took it once a day were 25% less likely to develop prostate cancer than men not taking the drug. It can also reduce hair loss and is sold under the name of Propecia.

Cons :- The side effects are dramatic and can negatively impact on a man's sex life in reducing sex drive, impotence and producing smaller amounts of ejaculate. That is why it is rarely prescribed for younger or more sexually active men. However studies have shown that some of these symptoms fade over time and become less dramatic.

Most Common Alpha-reductase Inhibitors :- The most common ones in use to-day are:- Finasteride, Proscar and Avodart.

Combination Treatment :- Some experiments have been carried out using BOTH of the medications above and results were promising in that there was a slower development of BPH.