How Is BPH Treated?
Patients with mild symptoms may not require treatment other than watching to make sure their condition doesn’t worsen. This approach is sometimes called “watchful waiting” or surveillance. A number of treatment options are available if your symptoms are severe. Treatments for BPH Include: • Medication. Proscar was one of the first drugs used to treat BPH. Avodart is another similar drug that can be used. They both work by inhibiting the production of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which affects the growth of the prostate gland. These medications appear to be most helpful for men with larger prostates. More common are drugs, referred to as alpha blockers, that relax the muscle in the prostate to reduce the tension on the urine tube. These include Hytrin, Cardura, Uroxatral and Flomax. Side effects include light-headedness and weakness. Taking both a DHT inhibitor and an alpha blocker at the same time can be more beneficial at controlling symptoms and preventing the progression o
