guys, I am a pharmacist and also have BPH for almost 20 years. (i am 57)...
not a complete list of drugs or side effects.
1. The 2 Main types of Medicines.
A. Alpha Blockers
Uraxotrol- alfuzosin- very potent. likely most effective.
Flomax- tamsulsin- most popular. works well.
* Both work to relax the muscles in the bladder neck/prostate.
* Both work quickly.
* Both can cause some impotence, usually not the ability to have an erection, but the ability to orgasm, or delay orgasm.
* Both can cause ejaculatory issues ranging from retrograde to anejaculation.
Retrograde ejaculation is when the semen goes backward into the bladder, which is unusual, but usually doesn't effect the feeling of the orgasm.
Anejaculation is when no semen leaves the prostate at all to enter the urethra. This very much impacts pleasure. It can either take all the pleasure away, have a painful orgasm, or no orgasm at all.
Actually, anejaculation might be more common than retrograde.
* The side effects are many, though, most find them manageable.
Including- low blood pressure, dizziness, tiredness, fainting, along with the sexual side effects.
B. Testosterone Inhibitors
Proscar- finasteride. This works in the body to inhibit the production of testosterone to shrink the prostate which is testosterone dependant.
It takes longer to start working because it takes time to shrink the prostate enough to make a difference. as the prostate shrinks, your psa may actually go down.
Side effects....
* Decrease in sex drive. less testosterone less desire. high incidence of this.
* Less semen produced.
* impotence due to decreased drive.
* you might grow boobs. those boobs might have a discharge.
* hair growth...... with a full head of hair you might be more attractive, but with no sex drive it might not matter anymore.
2. Other Treatments- (procedure)
TURP- avoid it at all costs unless there is no other choice. Do not just take your doctor's word for it. get a 2nd opinion.
* Very high incidence of impotence.
* loss of bladder control is a possibility.
* Retrograde ejaculation is very likely
* Results usually don't lost all that long, making repeat procedures likely.
PVP Laser- less side effects than TURP.
* Impotence less likely than TURP, actually very unlikely.
* Retrograde ejaculation is almost a sure thing though.
* It pretty much destroys the prostate leaving only the shell. \
Prostate Artery Embolism
* non-invasive
* no sexual side effects at all.
* effectively reduces the volume of the prostate
* Doesn't always fix the problem if there is a large median lobe growth.
Urolift
* Not a true surgery. It is a device inserted that pulls the interior walls of the prostate outward allowing the urethra to open up.
* No sexual side effects at all.
* Might actually increase ejaculatory function.
* Results almost immediately.
Other procedures.
TUNA- not used much anymore due to ineffectiveness and some problems. Uses a needle that heats up very hot to kill prostate tissue.
TUMT-uses microwave heat to kill prostate tissue. I know little about this, except I believe it's not as effective.
TUIP- makes little slices in the interior prostate that causes it to spring outward rather than squeezing inward. I don't know anyone having had this. Not always effective, but without likelihood of bad side effects. Not helpful for very large prostates,
Rezum- uses steam to heat up and kill tissue.
Any of these that use heat kinda scares me. I've heard of inexperienced docs really destroying some men's this way.
I hope this helps, guys. Whatever you do, do not just take your doctor's word for it. always study the procedure on the internet to find out what's truly going on. Many doctors are not very forthcoming about permanent side effects with the treatments they are proposing. the internet is your friend here. And, 2nd opinions also.
..
Thank you, Sir.
