Drug Combo Best for Enlarged Prostate
Drug Combo Best for Enlarged Prostate
May 30, 2002 -- Researchers have discovered that two drugs used to treat an enlarged prostate -- Proscar and Cardura -- work even better when taken in combination.
As a man ages, his prostate gland grows. An enlarged prostate -- known as benign prostatic hyperplasia -- can make him need to urinate more often, wake up at night to urinate, and have a weak or interrupted urine stream. Eventually he may become unable to urinate at all, which can cause frequent infections in the urinary tract or cause the kidneys to malfunction. Half of men in their 60s have symptoms related to an enlarged prostate, and about 90% of men aged 70-80 do.
A study presented this week at the American Urological Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., shows that the risk of worsening of the enlarged prostate was reduced by 67% in men who took Proscar and Cardura together.
Whereas, the risk was reduced by only 39% in men taking Cardura alone, and 34% in those taking Proscar alone.
The study followed over 3,000 men for four and one-half years. It is different from other studies that have looked at the same thing because it followed the men for so long. "The other studies out there were basically short-term," says researcher Kevin McVay, MD, of Northwestern University in Chicago. Other study results "don't really give you a realistic look at what medical therapy can do over a long period of time," he says.
"Even 10 years ago, we understood that there was a value"to treating an enlarged prostate with drugs, says study author John McConnell, MD, of UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Doctors knew the drugs relieved symptoms, "but there was still not a lot of understanding about what the long-term value of these medications may be to prevent or delay the progression of the disease."
In addition to delaying the worsening of the condition, Proscar and Cardura in combination relieved symptoms better than either drug alone.
"We believe on the basis of this trial that, at least in patients who are at risk for progression, combination therapy needs to be added to the list of standard medical therapy," McConnell says.
Drug Combo Best for Enlarged Prostate
May 30, 2002 -- Researchers have discovered that two drugs used to treat an enlarged prostate -- Proscar and Cardura -- work even better when taken in combination.
As a man ages, his prostate gland grows. An enlarged prostate -- known as benign prostatic hyperplasia -- can make him need to urinate more often, wake up at night to urinate, and have a weak or interrupted urine stream. Eventually he may become unable to urinate at all, which can cause frequent infections in the urinary tract or cause the kidneys to malfunction. Half of men in their 60s have symptoms related to an enlarged prostate, and about 90% of men aged 70-80 do.
A study presented this week at the American Urological Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., shows that the risk of worsening of the enlarged prostate was reduced by 67% in men who took Proscar and Cardura together.
Whereas, the risk was reduced by only 39% in men taking Cardura alone, and 34% in those taking Proscar alone.
The study followed over 3,000 men for four and one-half years. It is different from other studies that have looked at the same thing because it followed the men for so long. "The other studies out there were basically short-term," says researcher Kevin McVay, MD, of Northwestern University in Chicago. Other study results "don't really give you a realistic look at what medical therapy can do over a long period of time," he says.
"Even 10 years ago, we understood that there was a value"to treating an enlarged prostate with drugs, says study author John McConnell, MD, of UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Doctors knew the drugs relieved symptoms, "but there was still not a lot of understanding about what the long-term value of these medications may be to prevent or delay the progression of the disease."
In addition to delaying the worsening of the condition, Proscar and Cardura in combination relieved symptoms better than either drug alone.
"We believe on the basis of this trial that, at least in patients who are at risk for progression, combination therapy needs to be added to the list of standard medical therapy," McConnell says.