Hytrin is the brand name for the generic drug terazosin, but there additional alternative options to help relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Urinary difficulties often accompany prostatic problems. Hytrin relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck to improve urine flow,
Drugs.com explains.
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Possible side effects include irregular heartbeat, feeling faint, painful erections, and swelling in the hands, ankles, or feet. Patients should contact their doctor if these reactions occur. Immediate medical attention is needed for difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of the face, throat, lips, or tongue.
Dizziness, weakness, nausea, headache, and blurred vision are less serious side effects.
Men taking drugs for an enlarged prostate should consider alternative medications if they experience uncomfortable or dangerous side effects, worsening symptoms, or if the addition of another medication causes issues,
says Harvard Health Publications, an information source for the Harvard Medical School.
Hytrin is an alpha-1 blocker, which relaxes the muscles. A doctor might prescribe another drug in the same class, such as doxazosin, the generic name for Cardura, or tamsulosin, the generic name for Flomax. There are other medications in the category as well.
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In some cases, men are prescribed alpha-1 blockers such as Hytrin because they work quickly on symptoms. Patients may also use a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, which shrinks the size of the prostate but takes six or more months to take effect, Harvard Medical School reports.
When the inhibitor drug begins to work, the patient may be able to stop taking Hytrin. Dutasteride, the generic name for Avodart, and finasteride, the generic name for Proscar, are among the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.
Some men have found success in taking supplements as alternative options to improve symptoms from an enlarged prostate, but research continues on their effectiveness.
Beta-sitosterols are among the supplements that may improve urine flow,
according to WebMD. They may also lower cholesterol for men dealing with high cholesterol levels.
Pygeum, an African plum extract, may reduce the frequency of urination and improve urine flow. Research also suggests rye grass pollen extract relaxes muscles in the urinary tract for improved flow.
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