Alpha-blocker medications for prostatitis

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
alfuzosin hydrochloride	Xatral
doxazosin mesylate	Cardura
tamsulosin hydrochloride	Flomax
terazosin hydrochloride	Hytrin

These medications are available in pill form. A low dose is used initially, then the dosage is gradually increased until the medication has the greatest effect on reducing symptoms with minimal side effects.

How It Works

These medications relax the muscles in the prostate and at the base of the bladder. This reduces muscle tightness and spasms that may prevent normal urine flow.

Why It Is Used

These medications may be used to treat symptoms of chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome, non-inflammatory, a type of prostatitis, when muscle tightness and spasms are suspected to be the cause of symptoms and pain. Muscle tightness and spasms may force urine into the prostate, causing irritation that leads to prostatitis.

These medicines are approved by Health Canada for treating symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which may be caused by muscle spasms in the bladder neck or in the prostate. Although these medicines have not been approved by Health Canada for the treatment of prostatitis, your doctor may prescribe one of these medicines to treat your prostatitis.

How Well It Works

Most men who take alpha-blockers for prostatitis have fewer symptoms, but it takes awhile for the medicine to give results. Alpha-blockers work best in men who haven't already tried many different kinds of medicines for prostatitis and who have moderate to severe symptoms.¹

Side Effects

Alpha-blockers can reduce blood pressure to less than normal. This can result in light-headedness, especially when you stand up abruptly after sitting or lying down (postural hypotension).

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Because the medication can cause light-headedness, it may be given at night and started at a low dose that will be gradually increased.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: February 19, 2008
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology
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