Health and Prostate

Mechanisms of Obstruction and Rationale for Pharmacotherapy Current pharmacotherapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is based on agents that relax the smooth muscles of prostatic urethra and stroma and those that deprive acinar cells of androgen. Various agents have been tried in the treatment of BPH (Table). They may be broadly grouped into those affecting the dynamic component of urethral obstruction, namely the smooth muscle and prostatic stroma, and those affecting the glandular elements by androgen deprivation. The mechanism of action of many agents claimed to be useful in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is not clearly understood. TABLE — Drugs That Have Been Tried in the Medical Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Some agents act by more than one mechanism) Drug Class Drug (Code Designation) Trade Name α1-Adrenergic antagonists Prazosin HCl Minipress Terazosin HCl Hytrin Doxazosin mesylate Cardura Phentolamine mesylate YM-617 Nicergoline Sermion Indoramin Baratol Ketanserin Yohimbine HCI Antiandrogens Selective 5α-Reductase Read more [...]