Alpha-Blockers for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Examples
|
| alfuzosin | Uroxatral |
| doxazosin | Cardura |
| silodosin | Rapaflo |
| tamsulosin | Flomax |
| terazosin | Hytrin |
How It Works
Alpha-blockers help treat
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by relaxing smooth
muscle tissue found in the prostate and the bladder neck. This allows urine to
flow out of the bladder more easily.
These medicines usually are
taken by mouth once or twice a day.
Why It Is Used
These medicines often are used by men
who have moderate and bothersome symptoms of prostate enlargement and who want
more than home treatment for their symptoms.
How Well It Works
Many men find a 4- to 6-point
reduction in their
American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index
scores. Most men find this a significant improvement in their symptoms.1 Symptoms generally improve in 2 to 3 weeks.
Using a combination of an alpha-blocker with a
5-alpha reductase inhibitor may help your symptoms more than either medicine
alone.2
Side Effects
Side effects vary with the medicine and
the individual. Common minor side effects of alpha-blockers include:
- Weakness or fatigue.
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting when you stand up
suddenly after sitting or lying down. This may occur if your blood pressure
becomes low when you stand up suddenly (postural or orthostatic
hypotension).
- Headaches
- Nasal congestion.
Medicines used to treat
erection problems, such as sildenafil (Viagra),
vardenafil (Levitra), or tadalafil (Cialis), may make these side effects
worse.
Alpha-blockers may cause ejaculation of
semen into the bladder (retrograde ejaculation)
instead of out through the penis. This is not harmful.
These side
effects go away when the medicine is stopped.
See Drug Reference
for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all
systems.)
What To Think About
Fewer side effects, especially low blood
pressure when standing up suddenly, may occur if the drug is taken at
bedtime.
Alpha-blockers are sometimes used to treat high blood
pressure too. But for some people, an alpha-blocker does not help with their
high blood pressure or is not a good choice for other reasons. So even if you
are taking an alpha-blocker for your BPH symptoms, you may have to take another
medicine to control your high blood pressure.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
- AUA Practice Guidelines Committee (2003). AUA
guideline on management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (2003). Chapter 1:
Diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Journal of Urology, 170(2, Part 1): 530–547. Available online: http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines.cfm?sub=bph.
- Roehrborn CG, et al. (2008). The effects of
dutasteride, tamsulosin and combination therapy on lower urinary tract symptoms
in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic enlargement: 2-year
results from the CombAT study. Journal of Urology,
179(2): 616–621.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology |
|---|
| Last Revised | March 23, 2010 |
|---|
Last Revised:
March 23, 2010
AUA Practice Guidelines Committee (2003). AUA
guideline on management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (2003). Chapter 1:
Diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Journal of Urology, 170(2, Part 1): 530–547. Available online: http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines.cfm?sub=bph.
Roehrborn CG, et al. (2008). The effects of
dutasteride, tamsulosin and combination therapy on lower urinary tract symptoms
in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic enlargement: 2-year
results from the CombAT study. Journal of Urology,
179(2): 616–621.
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