There are a number of Alpha-Blockers approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of benign Prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Examples of alpha-blockers include doxazosin (Cardura), terazosin (Hytrin), tamsulosin (Flomax), prazosin (Minipress), and alfuzosin (Uroxatral).
Alpha-blockers work by relaxing smooth muscle tissue found in the bladder neck and prostate. By relaxing these muscles, urine is allowed to flow out of the bladder more freely. This group of medications have also been used to treat high blood pressure.
Most men will generally find their symptoms improving in 2-3 weeks.
Side effects seen with these types of medications can include:
- Fatigue and Weakness
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting when you stand up suddenly. This occurs because your blood pressure may suddenly drop as you stand up suddenly (orthostatic or postural hypotension)
- Headaches
- Retrograde ejaculation (ejaculation back into the bladder). This is usually not harmful.
For more comprehensive list of possible side effects and risks, please consult with your physician or manufacturers of these medications.
Reference:
- 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.
- Paterson R, Goldenberg L (2001). Benign prostatic hyperplasia. In J Teichman, ed., 20 Common Problems in Urology, part 2, pp. 185–198. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- McConnell JD, et al. (2003). The long-term effect of doxazosin, finasteride, and combination therapy on the clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia. New England Journal of Medicine, 349(25): 2387–2398.
- Webber R (2005). Benign prostatic hyperplasia. Clinical Evidence (13): 1093–1109.
- ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group (2000). Major cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients randomized to doxazosin vs. chlorthalidone. JAMA, 283(15): 1967–1975.
- WebMD
- Healthwise
|
