Medication
Medication is the most common treatment for mild to moderate symptoms of prostate enlargement. The options include:
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Alpha blockers. These medications relax bladder neck muscles and muscle fibers in the prostate, making urination easier. Alpha blockers — which include alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), tamsulosin (Flomax) and silodosin (Rapaflo) — usually work quickly in men with relatively small prostates. Side effects might include dizziness and a harmless condition in which semen goes back into the bladder instead of out the tip of the penis (retrograde ejaculation).
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5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These medications shrink your prostate by preventing hormonal changes that cause prostate growth. These medications — which include finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart) — might take up to six months to be effective. Side effects include retrograde ejaculation.
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Combination drug therapy. Your doctor might recommend taking an alpha blocker and a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor at the same time if either medication alone isn't effective.
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Tadalafil (Cialis). Studies suggest this medication, which is often used to treat erectile dysfunction, can also treat prostate enlargement.
Lifestyle changes
To ease symptoms of an enlarged prostate:
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Limit beverages in the evening. Don't drink anything for an hour or two before bedtime to avoid middle-of-the-night trips to the toilet.
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Limit caffeine and alcohol. They can increase urine production, irritate the bladder and worsen symptoms.
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Limit decongestants or antihistamines. These drugs tighten the band of muscles around the urethra that control urine flow, making it harder to urinate.
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Go when you first feel the urge. Waiting too long might overstretch the bladder muscle and cause damage.
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Schedule bathroom visits. Try to urinate at regular times — such as every four to six hours during the day — to "retrain" the bladder. This can be especially useful if you have severe frequency and urgency.
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Follow a healthy diet. Obesity is associated with enlarged prostate.
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Stay active. Inactivity contributes to urine retention. Even a small amount of exercise can help reduce urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate.
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Try double voiding. When you go to the bathroom, urinate and then urinate again a few moments later. This practice is known as double voiding.
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Keep warm. Colder temperatures can cause urine retention and increase the urgency to urinate.
Mayo Clinic Men's Health Moment (video library)