How We Picked The Best Buy Drugs For Bph
Our evaluation of medicines used to treat urinary problems due to BPH is based primarily on a systematic review conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Oregon Health & Science University Evidence-based Practice Center.
Researchers screened studies conducted from 1966 through July 2006 and focused on 62 that were well-conducted, and closely examined the effectiveness and/or safety of the drugs. A consultant to Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is also a member of the Oregon-based research team, which has no financial interest in any pharmaceutical company or product.
The full review of drugs for BPH is available at
In addition, we adapted material from Consumer Reports Health, an online subscription Web site presenting treatment options and Ratings .
Consumers Union and Consumer Reports is solely responsible for selecting the Best Buy Drugs. Our methodology is described in more detail in the Methods section at www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org.
Is Coffee Good For Prostate
Drinking four to five cups of coffee every day can lower your chances of fatal and high-grade prostate cancer, according to a 2014 review of clinical studies. Regardless of how many cups you drink overall, every three cups of coffee you drink can reduce your risk of fatal prostate cancer about 11 percent.
Appendix A: Search Strategy
Also Check: Does Having Sex Help An Enlarged Prostate
What Treatments Are Available For An Enlarged Prostate
For men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia , there are various treatment optionsfrom lifestyle changes, medication, to surgery. Men may be overwhelmed by the amount of options available and fearful of potential side effects. Urologist Dr. Stephen Summers explains what treatments are available and which options may work best for you.
Interviewer: For men who have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, there are a lot of treatment options, but it can be a little overwhelming. And some men fear about the side effects of those treatment options. We’re going to sort through that today.
Dr. Stephen Summers is a urologist at University of Utah Health, and he’s going to help us better understand the treatment options available for an enlarged prostate and, more importantly, understand what you would want to weigh as a patient when you’re having a discussion with your physician or urologist about those different treatment options. So you were telling me that sometimes men put off treating an enlarged prostate because of the fear of side effects. So let’s start there. Treatment options have side effects. Do they all have side effects?
Interviewer: Okay. So can you talk us through that a little bit? So, if I understand, the hierarchy is lifestyle changes first. And you’ve given us a great reason to want to do that to avoid the side effects of medication. But then it would be medication next. So talk us through, what are some of the options there?
Interviewer: Okay.
F Grading The Strength Of Evidence For Major Comparisons And Outcomes
The overall strength of evidence for primary outcomes of KQ1 within each comparison will be evaluated based on five required domains: study limitations directness consistency precision and reporting bias.23 Based on study design and risk of bias, study limitations will be rated as low, medium, or high. Consistency among studies will be rated as consistent, inconsistent, or unknown/not applicable based on the whether intervention effects are similar in direction and magnitude, and statistical significance of all studies. Directness will be rated as either direct or indirect based on the need for indirect comparisons when inference requires observations across studies. That is, more than one step is needed to reach the conclusion. Precision will be rated as precise or imprecise based on the degree of certainty surrounding each effect estimate or qualitative finding. An imprecise estimate is one for which the confidence interval is wide enough to include clinically distinct conclusions based upon established noticeable differences when available. Other factors that may be considered in assessing strength of evidence include dose-response relationship, the presence of confounders, and strength of association.
Based on these elements, we will assess the overall strength of evidence for each comparison and outcome as:23
Read Also: How Long Can You Live After Prostate Cancer Surgery
When Is Bph Treatment Necessary
The course of BPH in any individual is not predictable. Symptoms, as well as objective measurements of urethral obstruction, can remain stable for many years and may even improve over time for as many as one-third of men, according to some studies. In a study from the Mayo Clinic, urinary symptoms did not worsen over a 3.5-year period in 73% of men with mild BPH. A progressive decrease in the size and force of the urinary stream and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying are the symptoms most correlated with the eventual need for treatment. Although nocturia is one of the most annoying BPH symptoms, it does not predict the need for future intervention.
If worsening urethral obstruction is left untreated, possible complications are a thickened, irritable bladder with reduced capacity for urine infected residual urine or bladder stones and a backup of pressure that damages the kidneys.
- Inadequate bladder emptying resulting in damage to the kidneys
- Complete inability to urinate after acute urinary retention
- Incontinence due to overfilling or increased sensitivity of the bladder
- Recurrent severe hematuria
- Symptoms that trouble the patient enough to diminish his quality of life
Combination Therapy And Another Option
Some men see the best results by taking both an alpha-blocker and a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Taking both medications may work better to ease your symptoms, but you may also have a higher risk of side effects from one or both drugs.
You shouldnt take tadalafil or any other PDE-5 inhibitor in combination with alpha-blockers.
You May Like: Can Women Get Prostate Cancer
Questions To Ask Yourself About Enlarged Prostate Treatment
When you discuss the treatment options for an enlarged prostate with your doctor, keep these points in mind:
- How much are my symptoms bothering me?
- Do they keep me from doing things I enjoy?
- How long do I want to deal with them?
- Am I willing to accept small risks to improve my symptoms?
- Do I understand the risks?
- Am I ready to do something about this problem?
How Should This Medicine Be Used
Tamsulosin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. Take tamsulosin 30 minutes after the same meal each day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take tamsulosin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow tamsulosin capsules whole do not split, chew, crush, or open them.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of tamsulosin and may increase your dose after 2 to 4 weeks.
Tamsulosin may help control your condition, but it will not cure it. Continue to take tamsulosin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking tamsulosin without talking to your doctor.
Jun 2, 2021 | Prostate Treatment
We have selected the most effective and natural products forprostate treatment available without prescription in 2021. Below, find out what symptoms you should not ignore in prostate treatment, and how to identify and where to buy quality natural medicine for prostate treatment.
Choosing the best prostate treatment without consulting your doctor or pharmacist it is not always easy and you may often find yourself spending a lot of money on different therapies that in the end may not have been effective enough.
Content:
THE MOST COMMONSYMPTOMS THAT MAY REQUIRE PROSTATE TREATMENT
BEST OPTIONS FOR PROSTATE TREATMENT
You May Like: Can Your Prostate Grow Back After Surgery
Recommended Reading: Complications Of Radiation For Prostate Cancer
What Foods Are Good For Shrinking The Prostate
Best Foods For Prostate Health
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Fish like salmon, tuna and flounder are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which can slow the progression of tumor development even in men who already have the disease. …
- Choose the Mediterranean Diet. …
- Pumpkin Seeds And Brazil Nuts. …
- Asian Mushrooms.
A Criteria For Inclusion/exclusion Of Studies In The Review
Studies will be included in the review based on the PICOTS framework outlined above and the study-specific inclusion criteria described in Table 3.
|
|
| Publication type | |
|---|---|
| Language of Publication | English |
Also Check: What Happens When Hormone Treatment For Prostate Cancer Stops Working
Effective Energetic Treatment For Enlarged Prostate
Topics in this Post
Enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia , is a common condition as men get older. By age 60, about 30% of men show moderate to severe symptoms of BPH by age 80, it is 50%. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as a weak urine stream, urine stream that starts and stops, frequently getting up at night to urinate, and inability to void the bladder.
There are many different treatment options for BPH, ranging from behavior medications to surgery. A minimally invasive option is bipolar enucleation of the prostate, or BipoLEP. If you are considering treatment, here’s what you need to know.
Prostate anatomy
The prostate is a small organ that sits at the bottom of the bladder. The urethra, the tube the drains the bladder, runs through the middle of the prostate.
Early in a mans life, the prostate is roughly the size of a walnut or a small tangerine. Often around 50, the prostate increases in size. For some men, this change closes off the urethra and makes it more difficult for the bladder to empty.
The prostate has two parts. The adenoma is the inner part that surrounds urethra. It is the part of the prostate that grows as men get older. The capsule is the outer part of the prostate and does not change in size over the course of life. A good analogy is to think of an orange. The orange peel represents the capsule, and the fruit represents the adenoma.
Removal of prostate tissue
Procedure
New Vitality Super Beta Prostate
Super Beta Prostate uses a two-pronged approach to shrinking your prostate and improving urinary function. The first is making sure you dont have any deficiencies in trace minerals like molybdenum, copper, or manganese.
The second is using a high dosage of phytosterols, including their active ingredient, beta sitosterol, a proven supplement for prostate health.
It doesnt have the wide range of herbal extracts youll find in VitaBalance Prostate Plus , but for many men, trace minerals and beta sitosterol are enough to improve their prostate function and health.
Thanks to its high-quality ingredients and strong reviews, its a smart choice.
Dont Miss:
Recommended Reading: Can A Man Live Without A Prostate
How Is Benign Prostate Enlargement Diagnosed
If your GP suspects that you have an enlarged prostate, you’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire to assess your symptoms.
Each question has five possible answers that carry a score, and your overall score indicates the severity of your symptoms.
Your GP will also want to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms to prostate enlargement.
You may have a number of standard tests, such as urine tests, plus some more specific tests, such as a blood test that measures PSA.
How Effective Is Combining Drugs
Alpha blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are sometimes combined to try to relieve the symptoms as quickly as possible and at the same time prevent the prostate from growing further. This combination is considered for men who have severe symptoms and a very enlarged prostate gland. Their prostate gland is more likely to grow even larger.
Combining these drugs can lower the risk of the symptoms getting worse or complications arising. But these advantages only became apparent after one to two years of treatment, and only in men with very large prostate glands.
Recommended Reading: How Is Prostate Test Done
Don’t Miss: Are Eggs Good For Prostate Health
Do All People With Bph Require Medication
A person may not need treatment for a mildly enlarged prostate that is not causing significant symptoms. In such cases, a person may need to visit a urologist for regular checkups and may need treatment only if the symptoms become problematic.
If the symptoms of BPH begin to bother a person, a doctor may prescribe medication to shrink the prostate or stop its growth. This may reduce associated symptoms such as:
Tips For Coping With An Enlarged Prostate
When a man reaches about age 25, his prostate begins to grow. This natural growth is called benign prostatic hyperplasia and it is the most common cause of prostate enlargement. BPH is a benign condition that does not lead to prostate cancer, though the two problems can coexist.
Although 50% to 60% of men with BPH may never develop any symptoms, others find that BPH can make life miserable. The symptoms of BPH include:
- a hesitant, interrupted, weak urine stream
- urgency, leaking, or dribbling
- a sense of incomplete emptying
- more frequent urination, especially at night.
As a result, many men seek treatment. The good news is that treatments are constantly being improved. Patients and their physicians now have more medications to choose from, so if one doesnt do the trick, another can be prescribed. And thanks to some refinements, surgical treatments are more effective and have fewer side effects than ever before.
But there are some things men dealing with BPH can do on their own. When symptoms are not particularly bothersome, watchful waiting may be the best way to proceed. This involves regular monitoring to make sure complications arent developing, but no treatment. For more troubling symptoms, most doctors begin by recommending a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Often this will be enough to relieve the worst symptoms and prevent the need for surgery
Read Also: Is Ginger Good For Prostate
Table 5 Description Of Bph Drugs And Their Side Effects
| Type of medication | |
| Alpha-blockers | Relaxes muscles in bladder |
| Shrinks prostate tissue by blocking a hormone |
Decreased sex drive Decreased ability to get and keep an erection |
With the older drugsdoxazosin, terazosin, and prazosinyour doctor should start you on a low dose and build up to a higher dose over a period of a few weeks to give your body time to adjust to the medicine. That process is not necessary with the newer alpha-blockers .
Low blood pressure caused by the alpha-blocker medicines can fall to dangerous levels if you’re also taking a high blood pressure drug or erectile dysfunction medicines such as sildenafil , vardenafil , and tadalafil . So don’t take an alpha-blocker with those other drugs without first discussing it with your doctor.
Men with prostate enlargement who are planning to have cataract surgery should be aware that all alpha-blockers can cause a complication called intra-operative floppy iris syndrome, or IFIS. This condition causes the iris of the eye to become limp due to increases in fluid levels in the eye. This is a concern because it can raise the risk of a painful and extended recovery period from cataract surgery, and a reduction in visual acuity or sharpness after the surgery. You should alert your eye surgeon that you are taking alpha-blockers if you plan on having this surgery.
Our Best Buy Pick
If doxazosin does not bring enough relief, you could try terazosin next. Or you could also try adding finasteride.
Combination therapy?
International Prostate Symptom Score
Youll be asked to complete a questionnaire to assess your symptoms. Each question has five possible answers that carry a score, and your overall score is used to assess the severity of your symptoms.
The checklist includes the following questions.
Over the past month:
- How often have you had the sensation of not completely emptying your bladder after urinating?
- How often have you had to urinate again less than two hours after finishing urinating?
- How often have you found that you stopped and started again when urinating?
- How often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?
- How often have you had a weak stream of urine?
- How often have you had to push or strain to begin urinating during the course of one night?
- How often have you had to get up during the night to urinate?
After your GP has assessed the severity your symptoms, theyll aim to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms using certain tests.
Also Check: Where Is The Prostate Gland And What Is Its Function
What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture .
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.