Prostate Cancer Medicines

While there are not a lot of prostate cancer medicines on the market, there are treatments, which include medication for benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is a fancy name for an enlarged prostate. Medicine is in fact the most common treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Before prescribing any medications for benign prostatic hyperplasia doctors typically keep a close eye on the condition. If the patient is in good health then medications may not be needed. If good health is the case then the body may be able to fight and win. However, if the patient is not in the best of health then benign prostatic hyperplasia can lead to prostate cancer. If this is the case then prostate cancer medications and treatments must be sought out. It is a good idea, however, to seek out medications for benign prostatic hyperplasia before it causes any serious problems.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia can be treated with alpha-blockers. You may have heard of alpha-blockers before as they were originally used to treat high blood pressure. As far as treating benign prostatic hyperplasia the alpha-blockers help to relax the prostate gland muscles and the bladder so that there is not as much pressure on the urethra and the urine can flow more freely. Alpha-blockers do not reduce the prostate size, so when the treatment is stopped or abandoned the symptoms will come back. The side effects of the alpha-blockers can include intestinal problems, dizziness, headaches and a stuffy nose.

The 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are also often used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. These medications help to reduce the production of the male hormone that is produced in the prostate. These medications take about six to twelve months to really take effect. The side effects that are associated with these medications include erection issues and decrease of sexual desire.

Sometimes doctors will use a combination of alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase. The combination is especially done if the prostate is extremely enlarged and the patient is having a lot of trouble.

Herbal supplements may be another option for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. These are not prescriptions so you may want to do some research on them.

While these are not prostate cancer medicines, they may help to prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia from turning into prostate cancer.

Related Prostate Treatment Tips and Articles