The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that is situated just below the bladder. It plays a key role in producing fluid for semen. And when the gland grows too big, it puts pressure on the urethra, a urine-carrying canal that passes through the prostate, resulting in urinary symptoms.
Also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate enlargement is a common condition in men as they age.
More than 50% of men aged 60 and above and over 90% of men aged 70 and above have BPH symptoms, such as weak urine stream, leaking or dribbling, frequent need to urinate at night, and urinary urgency, according to WebMD.
Medications that help empty the bladder can often relieve the urinary symptoms associated with prostate enlargement. It is always advised to talk to your doctor about the drugs available for BPH.
Generic drugs for an enlarged prostate include alpha-blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.
Alpha-Blockers: These are commonly used in the treatment of BPH symptoms, as they empty the bladder by relaxing the muscles in the prostate gland and bladder. Alpha-blockers also advised for hypertension because it is effective at lowering blood pressure. Common examples of alpha-blockers include:
- Uroxatral (alfuzosin)
- Cardura (doxazosin)
- Rapaflo (silodosin)
- Flomax (tamsulosin)
- Hytrin (terazosin)
5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors: These drugs reduce the secretion of a male sex hormone that causes the prostate to grow. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase converts the enzyme testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – the hormone that causes the gland to grow. By inhibiting this enzyme, these drugs stop the conversion of testosterone into DHT, making the gland smaller again. Two common 5-alpha reductase inhibitors include:
- Proscar (finasteride)
- Avodart (dutasteride)
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) Inhibitors: PDE-5 inhibitors are approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Of all PDE-5 inhibitors, only one drug called Cialis (tadalafil) is approved for the treatment of enlarged prostate. The other drugs in this class, such as Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), and Stendra (avanafil), are only approved to treat ED.
In March 2010, the FDA approved the first generic version of Flomax (tamsulosin). The agency granted approval to IMPAX Laboratories of Hayward, California. In June 2006, Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said that FDA granted approval for its generic version Proscar (finasteride).
