The prescription drug terazosin is a safe and effective treatment for both high blood pressure and the symptoms of an enlarged prostate--medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an Ohio State University study shows. "For men over 45 who have hypertension and BPH, terazosin not only reduced their elevated blood pressure, it also significantly improved their BPH symptoms," indicates Robert Guthrie, associate professor of pharmacology and family medicine.
The results suggest that all men currently suffering from BPH symptoms, which can include a frequent urge to urinate and difficulty doing so when the bladder feels full, can receive safe, significant relief without surgery. Whether the drug will prevent these men from eventually needing prostate surgery remains to be seen.
Development of a non-surgical treatment for BPH is a high priority among physicians and researchers, Guthrie points out. "Prostate surgery is not 100% successful and it can have side effects. There's a significant recurrence rate. About 18 to 20% of prostate surgery patients have to have a second operation. Also, about 18% of patients develop complications after the surgery, such as infections, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. The side effects of prostate surgery, when they happen, are often significant."
The study results suggest that terazosin will become accepted as a simple, safe, and effective way to treat high blood pressure and BPH, whether those conditions occur together or separately. "It's safe. It's effective. It's well-tolerated by the patients. For patients, it means they can get significant symptom relief without having to have surgery. It also means they don't have to be uncomfortable for years and years."
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COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
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