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At one time, surgery was the main way to treat an enlarged prostate. But now there are medicines that can help many men.
There are two types of medicines. They work in different ways. Both can help improve symptoms.
Medicines that relax the bladder and prostate muscles. These medicines help improve urine flow. They don’t treat the enlarging prostate, or lower PSA levels. As a result, you may still be at risk for needing prostate surgery and having acute urinary retention. On their own, they don’t treat the cause of an enlarging prostate or the possible complications.
Side effects may include:
- Ejaculation problems
- Stomach problems
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Stuffy nose
Medicines that shrink the prostate. A hormone makes the prostate grow. Some medicines keep the body from making this hormone. This stops the prostate from growing. These medicines have been proven to reduce prostate size.
These medicines work more slowly than the other type. They improve urinary symptoms over the long term. It may take three to six months or more before you notice a change.
Medicines that shrink the prostate can lower the risk of other problems. Men taking these medicines are less likely to have acute urinary retention, a blocked bladder that prevents urination. They also may be less likely to need prostate surgery.
These medicines may be good for some men who are at high risk for problems or prostate surgery later, even if they don’t have severe symptoms.
Side effects tend to happen more often during the first year of treatment. They may include:
- Trouble having an erection
- Lowered sex drive
- Less semen when you ejaculate
- Male breast growth
Medicines that shrink the prostate also lower PSA levels by about half. The PSA test can still show prostate cancer in people using these treatments. But doctors must read the results in a different way.
Alternative medicine
You may have heard about some herbal medicines used for an enlarged prostate. One of the best known is from the saw palmetto plant. Experts are looking at this and other supplements to see if they might help.
Always check with your doctor before using an alternative treatment. Some herbs, minerals, and other supplements can interact with drugs or foods. They can also cause side effects. Just because something is natural does not mean it is safe.
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