Table 1 Classes Of Drugs Used To Treat Bph
| Generic Name | Available as a Generic Drug? |
| Alpha-blockers | |
| Yes |
1. Prazosin is prescribed off-label to treat BPH.
The erectile dysfunction medication, tadalafil , is approved for treating enlarged prostate symptoms, and a combination pill, Jalyn, which contains both dutasteride and tamsulosin, is also available. Neither of those were included in the analysis that forms the basis of this report, so we do not discuss them. However, the pros and cons of combination therapy with an alpha blocker and a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor are discussed further below.
Table 5 Description Of Bph Drugs And Their Side Effects
| Type of medication | |
| Alpha-blockers | Relaxes muscles in bladder |
| Shrinks prostate tissue by blocking a hormone |
Decreased sex drive Decreased ability to get and keep an erection Ejaculation problems |
With the older drugsdoxazosin, terazosin, and prazosinyour doctor should start you on a low dose and build up to a higher dose over a period of a few weeks to give your body time to adjust to the medicine. That process is not necessary with the newer alpha-blockers .
Low blood pressure caused by the alpha-blocker medicines can fall to dangerous levels if youre also taking a high blood pressure drug or erectile dysfunction medicines such as sildenafil , vardenafil , and tadalafil . So dont take an alpha-blocker with those other drugs without first discussing it with your doctor.
Men with prostate enlargement who are planning to have cataract surgery should be aware that all alpha-blockers can cause a complication called intra-operative floppy iris syndrome, or IFIS. This condition causes the iris of the eye to become limp due to increases in fluid levels in the eye. This is a concern because it can raise the risk of a painful and extended recovery period from cataract surgery, and a reduction in visual acuity or sharpness after the surgery. You should alert your eye surgeon that you are taking alpha-blockers if you plan on having this surgery.
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If doxazosin does not bring enough relief, you could try terazosin next. Or you could also try adding finasteride.
Using Pads Or A Sheath
Absorbent pads and pants can be worn inside your underwear, or may replace your underwear altogether. These will soak up any leaks.
Urinary sheaths can also help with dribbling. They look like condoms with a tube coming out of the end. The tube connects to a bag that you can strap to your leg under your clothing.
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Benign Enlarged Prostate: Which Medications Can Help
Drugs that help to empty the bladder can relieve symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. They are often used if the symptoms are such a problem that it is hard to get by in everyday life without treatment.
If you have to go to the toilet several times a night and constantly feel the urge to pee during the day too because your bladder no longer fully empties itself, various medications can help.
When deciding whether to take a certain medication, it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor about possible interactions with other drugs. Many older men who develop prostate problems are already taking medication for other conditions such as high blood pressure or chronic illnesses.
Best Prostate Over The Counter Medicine
VitalFlow is a revolutionary new product that says it can reduce inflammation and pressure on along the bladder. According to the official website, the product needs to be taken every day to work. In this article, Im going to address whether or not the supplements actually work, what ingredients they have, and my final opinion on it. Best Prostate Over The Counter Medicine
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What Causes Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The cause of benign prostatic hyperplasia is not well understood however, it occurs mainly in older men. Benign prostatic hyperplasia does not develop in men whose testicles were removed before puberty. For this reason, some researchers believe factors related to aging and the testicles may cause benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Throughout their lives, men produce testosterone, a male hormone, and small amounts of estrogen, a female hormone. As men age, the amount of active testosterone in their blood decreases, which leaves a higher proportion of estrogen. Scientific studies have suggested that benign prostatic hyperplasia may occur because the higher proportion of estrogen within the prostate increases the activity of substances that promote prostate cell growth.
Another theory focuses on dihydrotestosterone , a male hormone that plays a role in prostate development and growth. Some research has indicated that even with a drop in blood testosterone levels, older men continue to produce and accumulate high levels of DHT in the prostate. This accumulation of DHT may encourage prostate cells to continue to grow. Scientists have noted that men who do not produce DHT do not develop benign prostatic hyperplasia.
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And, all our supplements come with a 90-day money-back guarantee. So if you arent happy with the results, we will provide you with credit or a full refund.
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Tamsulosin Now Available Otc
Tamsulosin is now available over-the-counter to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia .
Boehringer Ingelheim has launched tamsulosin 0.4mg as Flomax Relief.
The company expects the publicity campaign surrounding the launch to increase the number of men going to their GP to discuss prostate problems.
Hertfordshire GP Dr Mike Kirby said that the OTC availability of tamsulosin provided GPs with increased access to a hard-to-reach patient population, who are often reluctant to attend GP consultations.
GPs managing these patients may well identify risk factors or indicators for other conditions such as diabetes and heart disease which could otherwise have gone undetected,’ he said.
Treatment with OTC tamsulosin will be initiated and largely supervised in pharmacy. But patients will have to visit their GP during the first six weeks of treatment for a BPH diagnosis.
The Truth About Herbal Supplements And Your Prostate Health
Whether you have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer or youre trying to take preventive measures to avoid it, its tempting to turn to alternative or complementary medical therapy. Were here to set the record straight about how vitamins and herbal supplements affect your prostate health.
But before we go any further, lets say this: we know that coping with any form of cancer is never simple. Sometimes traditional treatments arent as effective as youd like them to be or what you expected. One of the biggest alternatives is over-the-counter supplements and herbs. You should always check with your Pittston urologist before you start taking any kind of new medications. Lets take a look at some of the most common alternative remedies, potential side effects, issues, etc.
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What Are The Ingredients
The three ingredients that make this remedy effective are palmetto berries, graviola leaf, and a blend of mushrooms. Saw palmetto berries are known for their ability to inhibit the production of DHT, and graviola leaf is sometimes used to treat infections and inflammation for many diseases .
The triple blend of the three native Japanese mushrooms maitake, reishi and shiitake are what make up the third ingredient.
Along with those three ingredients, purchasers will also get various other substances that the creators felt would help the purchasers as well, such as:
- Cats claw
- Copper
- Plant sterol complex
The ingredients all help at different stages of the healing process. At the fast penetration stage, users get the benefits of every ingredient, thanks to their high bioavailability. Then, the body flushes out the build-up of DHT, using the top three ingredients . This problem is addressed again in the sixth step, preventing the body from falling victim to DHT again with selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin B6. Best Prostate Over The Counter Medicine
The third stage blood purification uses the natural toxin-flushing qualities of cats claw, tomato fruit powder, and pygeum africanum bark. Green tea and broccoli help to fix the incontinence issue that many men face, while stinging nettle root and red raspberry are essentially for recharging the sex drive. In the seventh step, DHT is further blocked to protect the sex drive with zinc, copper and plant sterol complex.
What Are The Recommended Doses For Prostate Supplements
It really comes down to the ingredients found in prostate supplements. For the time being as much as 2g of saw palmetto is deemed well tolerated. As for the likes of Pygeum Africanum, nettle, cats claw and lycopene, maximum possible dose that is deemed safe are 200mg, 360mg, 100mg, and 75mg respectively.
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Personal And Family Medical History
Taking a personal and family medical history is one of the first things a health care provider may do to help diagnose benign prostatic hyperplasia. A health care provider may ask a man
- what symptoms are present
- when the symptoms began and how often they occur
- whether he has a history of recurrent UTIs
- what medications he takes, both prescription and over the counter
- how much liquid he typically drinks each day
- whether he consumes caffeine and alcohol
- about his general medical history, including any significant illnesses or surgeries
Table 4 Common Dosages Of Bph Drugs
| Generic Name | ||
| 2 mg to 8 mg daily | ||
| Doxazosin extended-release | 4 mg to 8 mg daily | |
| Prazosin | 2 mg to 10 mg daily | |
| Silodosin | 4 mg to 8 mg daily | 4 mg to 8 mg daily |
| Tamsulosin | 0.4 mg or 0.8 mg daily | |
| Terazosin | 2 mg to 10 mg daily | |
| Finasteride | ||
| 0.5 mg daily | 0.5 mg daily |
Also, little research has been done on whether race or age makes a difference in how men respond to the BPH drugs. Some major studies have included very elderly men and black men, but so far there is no definitive evidence that the effectiveness or side effects of treatment differ between black and white men or older men.
Silodosin is the newest alpha-blocker. The FDA approved this medicine in late 2008. In two studies involving a total of 923 men, those receiving Rapaflo showed an improvement in their symptoms and urinary-flow rate compared with those who took a placebo pill over 12 weeks. But since the drug does not have the long track record of use of some of the other alpha-blockers, its safety profile is not yet firmly established. In addition, its more expensive. At $159-$163 per month, depending on dose, it is one of the most expensive alpha-blockers, and costs significantly more than generic doxazosin, which runs $8 or less per month. For those reasons, wed advise it not be used as initial treatment at this time.
How the drugs work
Studies dont indicate any difference in the effectiveness or safety of finasteride and dutasteride, and, at the current time, neither is known to have any advantages over the other.
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How Effective Is Combining Drugs
Alpha blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are sometimes combined to try to relieve the symptoms as quickly as possible and at the same time prevent the prostate from growing further. This combination is considered for men who have severe symptoms and a very enlarged prostate gland. Their prostate gland is more likely to grow even larger.
Combining these drugs can lower the risk of the symptoms getting worse or complications arising. But these advantages only became apparent after one to two years of treatment, and only in men with very large prostate glands.
The disadvantage: Ejaculation problems and erection problems are more likely in people who use this combination than in people who only use alpha blockers.
Symptoms Of Prostate Infection
Infection of prostate can be acute or chronic. In chronic cases infection is recurrent, but less intense than in acute one. Most symptoms are related with urinating, starting from dribbling in the end of it, all trough inability to empty the bladder altogether, and frequent night urinating. In case of prostatitis, high fever and fatigue.Difference between acute and chronic infection is, that in chronic case you can also experience sexual dysfunction, pain in testicles, lower back, urinary pain while urinating, pain in jolts and mild fever.
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How Do Prostate Supplements Work
There is no clear link as to how prostate supplements work. However, those that include ingredients with some scientific research are believed to help in one way or another. Such supplements might be a hit or miss depending on the overall strength of the formula, the ingredients used, and ones own prostate health to name a few.
Top 10 Prostate Supplement On Our Radar
Many of the prostate supplements that were on our radar stemmed from continuous support from the general public. This led us to wonder what about these solutions triggered such a response. Other factors, which will be later expounded upon, include transparency, scientific backing and supposed benefits. These led us to study the following 10 supplements :
- ProstaStream
- Pro-Forta Men by Gundry MD
- Prostate Support by VigRX
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Prostate Support By Nuzena
Price: $35 USD
Nuzenas Prostate Support appears to follow the philosophy of simple is sweet, as the team managed to put together a formula consisting of saw palmetto, uva ursi, cats claw, quercetin, juniper berries and zinc. Having also approached this concern by combining the efforts of science and tradition, Nuzena insists that Prostate Support can assist with healthy urinary flow, support bladder discomfort and as a whole, act as a healthy prostate support.
Besides clinically proven ingredients as a factor, the team appears to pride themselves in offering pure and efficient extracts that have been sustainably sourced. For best results, Nuzena suggests two capsules a day to be split between the middle of the day and one during the evening. Interestingly, with every purchase, individuals will also receive free personal health specialist, something that might of interest for some.
Advanced Bionutrionals Advanced Prostate Formula
Price: $49.95 USD
Advanced Prostate Formula by Advanced Bionutritionals is formulated to support positive hormone balance, increasing circulation and antioxidant presence within prostate cells, improving inflammation response and supporting healthy urinary tract function. Much of these claims are deemed possible due to the likes of Swedish Flower Pollen Extract, Pygeum, Saw Palmetto and Stinging Nettle to name a few. The Advanced Bionutritionals company is a very prominent and well-respected supplement creator who specializes in high quality ingredients and formulas for men of all ages and health conditions.
The Vitamin D3 has 20 mcg or 50% daily value, the Zinc has 30 mg or 136% daily value, the Selenium has 100 mcg or 91% of daily value, the Copper has 1 mg , the Saw Palmetto berries, dried extract, min. 45% fatty acids and sterols has 426 mg per dose, the Pygeum , bark, dried extract min. 2.5% total sterols, calculated as B-sitosterol has 100 mg, the Pumpkin seed, 4:1 dried extract has 320 mg, the Stinging Nettle root, 4:1 dried extract has 100 mg *, the Swedish Flower Pollen dried extract has 100 mg, the Diindolylmethane has 200 mg and finally rounding out the formula has Lycopene Complex of 20 mg per serving.
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Who Needs A Drug
As we have already mentioned, many men with BPH dont have symptoms or their symptoms can be managed with lifestyle changes. About half of men of any age who have BPH will have symptoms that require attention and treatment that may involve taking one of the drugs we evaluate in this report. The percentage of men requiring treatment increases with age:
One in four men in their late 50s can expect to have symptoms that are bothersome enough to seek medical attention or treatment
One in three men in their late 60s can expect to have symptoms that are bothersome enough for them to seek medical attention or treatment, and
One in two men in their late 70s and beyond can expect to have symptoms bothersome enough to seek medical attention or treatment.
This means that millions of men are regularly taking drugs or using other treatment options to ease the symptoms of BPH.
The first advice wed give to any man bothered by problems when urinating is to see a doctor. Many men are reluctant to talk about urination problems with their doctor, but its important to get these issues evaluated as early as possible to prevent any complications that may be present, whether or not the patient is aware of them. Its important to note that some men dont notice any symptoms of BPH and their enlarged prostate is only discovered by their physician during a routine examination.
Getting a diagnosis
Pygeum Africanum Bark Root
Also referred to as African Plum tree, Pygeum Africanum is a type of evergreen tree grown in the mountains of Central and South America. The extractions that come from the bark have supposedly been used in traditional medicine to specifically treat prostate gland inflammation, urinary problems and kidney diseases among others.
A review conducted by NIH on what research has in store for this ingredient concluded that the randomized trials were small in size and only considered its effectiveness over the short-term. Nonetheless, some evidence is said to exist in relation to urinary symptoms and flow, and spermogram. For those wondering why small sample sizes are problematic, statistically speaking, it is hard to make inferences about the population, when the sample fails to capture/represent the general public. So, this is something to reflect upon while searching for prostate supplements.
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