Urology
Urological Conditions
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasis (BPH)
Medications
A variety of medications are available to treatment the symptoms
of BPH. Your doctor will assess the severity of your symptoms,
and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.
Options for medication include:
Alpha blockers. Originally used to treat
high blood pressure, these drugs relax the smooth muscle
of the prostate and bladder
neck, making it easier to urinate. They’re most
often taken orally, once or twice a day just before bedtime,
and work
almost immediately. Side effects can include headaches,
dizziness, light-headiness, low blood pressure, fatigue
and difficulty
breathing. Long-term risks and benefits have not been studied.
Below is a list of some commonly prescribed alpha blockers,
including their generic name, brand name, and typical
dosage:
5-Alpha-reductase inhibitors. While alpha blockers
reduce the symptoms of BPH, these drugs can actually shrink the
prostate.
Studies suggest they work best for men with greatly enlarged
prostates and can take a long time to work completely (though
some improvement may be noticed after a few months). Commonly
prescribed 5-Alpha reductase inhibitors are:
