Tag: Alpha-blockers

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Enlarged Prostate

Phenoxybenzamine: A Permanent Solution?

Other alpha-blockers, cause a return of symptoms once the medication is discontinued, however, the effect of phenoxybenzamine is permanent.

Other alpha-blockers, cause a return of symptoms once the medication is discontinued, however, the effect of phenoxybenzamine is permanent.

Phenoxybenzamine was one of the first alpha-blockers studied for its ability to reduce some symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

As a non-specific alpha-blocker, early studies reported that phenoxybenzamine successfully relaxes the urethra and reduces the frequency of urination in patients with BPH.

Though lower doses of phenoxybenzamine may be used to relieve bladder obstruction before surgery, it is rarely used in the treatment of BPH due to its adverse effects.

Some of the side effects and risks of using phenoxybenzamine are:

– stuffy nose
– mild dizziness or drowsiness
– blurred vision
– trouble having an orgasm
– upset stomach
– tired feeling.
– impotence
– ejaculatory dysfunction
– fainting
– fast heartbeat
– vomiting

Phenoxybenzamine also carries the potential risk for irregular absorption and mutation, which can cause adverse effects and permanent damage.

Another downside to phenoxybenzamine is that, just like the other alpha-blockers, phenoxybenzamine does not reduce the size of an enlarged prostate, but rather treats some of the urinary symptoms. However, there is a class of medications that can shrink the prostate itself. These medications are known as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.

Medication is not for everyone, and many find that a non-invasive procedure such as Prostate Artery Embolization, which we specialize in here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional is a better fit.

However, medication is still worth being knowledgeable about, especially if your provider has suggested it as part of your treatment plan. It’s important to know what these medications do, as well as their benefits and their risks.

In our next article, we will continue our look into medications that are used to treat the symptoms of BPH, by focusing on the use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in the treatment of an enlarged prostate.

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Alpha Blockers Types, Benefits, and Side Effects

Alpha-Blockers can reduce urinary symptoms by relaxing the muscles in specific areas of the urinary tract, such as the bladder and neck. This makes them a useful medication for treating urinary issues caused by an enlarged prostate.

The alpha-blocker that is most commonly used for bph urinary issues is Tamsulosin. Which is also known by its brand name Flomax.

Tamsulosin, as well as the alpha-blockers alfuzosin (Uroxatral), and silodosin (Rapaflo), are known as selective alpha-blockers that focus primarily on relaxing the tissues of the urinary tract. Whereas doxazosin (Cardura), and terazosin (Hytrin), are non-selective alpha-blockers that can affect both the urinary tract and other tissues located elsewhere in the body.

One of the benefits of using alpha-blockers such as tamsulosin (Flomax) is that they work quickly.

In fact, some patients taking tamsulosin may notice a difference within days of starting the medication. However, for those that are prescribed non-selective alpha-blockers like doxazosin and terazosin, their effectiveness can take time, as these medications have to be started at a very low dose and slowly titrate up so as to avoid causing low blood pressure.

Like all medications, alpha-blockers do come with their share of side effects.

The most common side effect reported is dizziness, however, this usually passes once the body adjusts to the medicine. That being said, it is wise to refrain from driving or using any heavy machinery while first adjusting to alpha-blockers due to this common side effect.

  • Other common side effects may include:
  • feeling dizzy or sick (nausea)
  • having a headache when you stand up
  • tiredness or fatigue
  • reduced libido
  • pounding heartbeat
  • a blocked nose
  • problems getting or keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction)
  • dry orgasm (where little or no semen is released during orgasm)

Because alpha-blockers lower blood pressure, there is also the risk of experiencing the side effects associated with this, especially if the dosage is too high.

  • Symptoms of low blood pressure from alpha-blockers include:
  • Nausea
  • Dehydration
  • Unusual thirst
  • Poor concentration
  • Blurry vision
  • Shallow breathing
  • Rapid breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Pale skin

Patients taking alpha-blockers to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate also risk experiencing sexual side effects from the medication. Though sometimes alpha-blockers can improve erectile function if the dose is too high and as a result blood pressure is too low, erectile dysfunction can occur.

Alpha-blockers can have dangerous interactions with many other medications. Alpha-blockers should not be taken with beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, medications for erectile dysfunction, and more.

It’s also important to note that while alpha-blockers lower blood pressure and have been shown to improve total cholesterol- some research has found that these medications can actually increase the risk of heart failure. So be sure to talk to your doctor about any of these concerns.

When it comes to taking medication to reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate it’s important to make sure the benefits outweigh the potential side effects and risks involved.

Some men find medication to be very beneficial, while for others, a more permanent solution is preferred- such as surgery or a non-invasive procedure such as Prostate Artery Embolization, which we specialize in here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional.

For those men that do choose to take medication, alpha-blockers are not the only option. In our next article, we will take a look at another class of medications used to treat an enlarged prostate, 5–alpha-reductase inhibitors.

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Treating BPH Symptoms with Alpha-Blockers

Today we will begin our series exploring all of the treatment options available for men with benign prostate hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate.

Here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional, we specialize in treating an enlarged prostate through a procedure called Prostate Artery Embolization. Using state-of-the-art technology, this non-invasive outpatient procedure is done by our highly skilled expert radiologist, Dr. Rishi Sood.

Though we highly recommend a consultation to see if PAE would be best for your prostate condition, we also believe that it’s important to be informed as to all of the treatment options available. This way you can have an informed conversation with your doctor, and our team here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional, in order to determine which treatment would be best for you.

Today we will begin by looking at medications used to treat an enlarged prostate, starting with the commonly used class of medications called Alpha-Blockers.

Alpha-Blockers are a type of blood pressure medication, that has been found to be useful in treating some of the symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia. These medications work by “blocking” the hormone norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline) and thereby prevent the muscles in the walls of veins and smaller arteries from constricting. In doing so, this allows these vessels to remain open and relaxed, and as a result, blood flow is improved and blood pressure is lowered.

Alpha-blockers can also be an effective medicine to treat some of the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. Due to their ability to relax the muscles in the prostate and around the bladder, men taking this medication may have an easier time urinating.  In fact, according to some studies, it is estimated that around 3 out of 5 men that take alpha-blockers find that their urinary symptoms improve within the first month of treatment.  Even better, for men that are responding well to the medication, alpha-blockers may continue to work for several years thereafter.

Alpha-Blockers typically work best for men experiencing moderate to severe benign prostate hyperplasia, and men who are experiencing the irregular flow of urine. By improving the flow of urine, alpha-blockers can also reduce the risk of bladder infections, urinary tract infections, and bacterial prostatitis.

Though alpha-blockers can help increase urine flow and relieve tension in the bladder neck and prostate, they do not cure an enlarged prostate. And, like all medicines, alpha-blockers do come with their side effects and risks.

In our next article, we will take a look at the most commonly prescribed alpha-blockers. And, we’ll look at the side effects and risks associated with alpha-blockers as well.