MEDICAL THERAPY FOR BPH TREATMENT
There’s also medical therapy—new drugs designed to attack the problems of BPH in a couple of ways. One strategy is targeted at shrinking the enlarged prostate; the other is aimed at keeping smooth muscle tissue in the prostate from tightening around the urethra.
A drug called finasteride shrinks the prostate by blocking the formation of a powerful hormone called DHT. Because finasteride doesn’t affect the body’s production of the male hormone testosterone, impotence is a rare complication. About one-third of men taking finasteride have a significant improvement in symptoms, but this doesn’t happen right away; it generally takes six months to a year for the drug to reach its maximal effect.
Drugs called alpha blockers relax the smooth muscle tissue within the prostate. For many men, they can provide immediate relief. Because these drugs can also lower blood pressure, the dose needs to be increased gradually, and these medications are best taken at night.
The degree of improvement in symptoms is similar to the results achieved with finasteride.
Which BPH treatment is right for you? Be your own advocate; learn as much as you can about the disease itself, and about the pros and cons of each treatment. Before committing to any treatment, you owe it to yourself to find answers to some basic questions, including: What are the odds that my symptoms will improve? How long will the effects of the treatment last? And, what are the risks of complications?
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