Proscar Alternatives

If Proscar is not effective or if side effects occur, your healthcare provider may recommend Proscar alternatives to treat your condition. Options for treating an enlarged prostate (besides using Proscar) may include watchful waiting, surgery, and certain other medications.

  

Alternatives to Proscar: An Overview

There are several alternatives to Proscar® for treating an enlarged prostate (known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH). These alternatives include "watchful waiting," surgery, or other medications.
 

Proscar Alternatives Explained

Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a commonly used medical term that refers to careful monitoring of a condition rather than treatment. Watchful waiting is especially appropriate if a man does not have any enlarged prostate symptoms or if the symptoms are not too bothersome. Watchful waiting will include regular visits to your healthcare provider.
 
Surgery
If BPH is causing severe symptoms or if medication is not helping, surgery is an option. There are several different types of surgeries for an enlarged prostate.
 
(Click BPH Surgery for more information.)
 
Medication Alternatives to Proscar
There are basically two types of medicines used to treat BPH:
 
  • 5-alpha reductase inhibitors: these medicines block the formation of DHT (dihydrotestesterone), helping to shrink the prostate. These medications may take as long as six months to see results. There are currently two of these medications for BPH available:

 

Common side effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors include decreased libido (sex drive), erectile dysfunction (also known as impotence or ED), and decreased ejaculate volume.
  • Alpha-1 blockers: these medicines help relax the muscles near the prostate. They have no effect on the size of the prostate but can work very quickly. These BPH medications include:

 

Because alpha-1 blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), they may be especially helpful for men with both BPH and high blood pressure. Common side effects of alpha-1 blockers include dizziness, fatigue, and headache.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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