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Not every prostate enlargement has to be treated straight away. How to proceed depends on the level of distress, the size of the prostate and possible complications.
Among the medicines there are two important groups that work in quite different ways. Tamsulosin stands for the alpha-blockers, finasteride for the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. They can also be combined.
| Alpha-blocker (e.g. tamsulosin) | 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (e.g. finasteride) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | relaxes the muscle at the bladder neck and prostate, urine flows more easily | shrinks the enlarged prostate over time |
| Especially for whom | when rapid relief is wanted, at any prostate size | rather with a clearly enlarged prostate |
| How fast | often noticeable within days | slow, usually only after several months |
| Progression / surgery risk | eases symptoms but does not lower urinary retention or surgery risk | can slow progression and lower urinary retention and surgery risk |
| Typical side effects | dizziness, headache, blocked or runny nose, drop in blood pressure; often a "dry" ejaculation | possible sexual side effects (less desire, erection and ejaculation problems); rarely a low mood; lowers the PSA value |
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Plain talk about the side effects, because many questions stay open here:
Document the effect and side effects cleanly.
Whether tamsulosin, finasteride or both: brite reminds you of the daily intake, helps you record symptoms and side effects, and checks for interactions with your other medicines. That makes your next appointment concrete.
Get started for freeMake an appointment when problems with passing urine bother you, when your sleep suffers from the night-time urge or when the symptoms get worse. It is also useful for interpreting the PSA value and ruling out other causes.
Medicines for prostate enlargement work best when they are taken regularly. brite helps you with this and keeps an eye on symptoms and side effects.
No. Benign prostate enlargement (BPS) is not cancer and does not turn into cancer. Both can however occur at the same time, which is why the work-up belongs in medical hands.
A recognised questionnaire with seven questions that grades the severity of the symptoms. Up to 7 points counts as mild, 8 to 19 as moderate and 20 to 35 as severe.
It depends on the situation. Tamsulosin (an alpha-blocker) eases the symptoms quickly but does not shrink the prostate. Finasteride slowly shrinks an enlarged prostate and can slow progression. With a large prostate they are sometimes combined.
This is a so-called dry or retrograde ejaculation. It is harmless, desire and erection usually stay intact, and the effect usually disappears again after stopping the medicine.
In some men, finasteride can affect desire or erection, and low moods are occasionally reported. If such changes bother you, speak with your doctor about alternatives.
Yes. Finasteride halves the PSA value in the blood. So at screening, always say that you take it, so that the value is assessed correctly.
With mild symptoms, herbal preparations (for example with sitosterol) can ease the symptoms somewhat. With stronger symptoms they are usually not enough.
When you suddenly cannot pass any urine at all and the bladder presses painfully (acute urinary retention). Then go to the emergency department at once or call the emergency number.
