BPH
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Texas Star
US Veteran
The doc wants me to use Terazosin, but I've been hesitant to begin.
I've heard that Saw Palmetto works. Has fewer side effects than prescriptions. It's billed as an herbal drug, I guess.
Anyone tried it? Anything else?
This is a topic that will surely interest many men here, and I hope the thread will be allowed. It's hard to find a place to discuss things like this, and it's important to most men over 50.
I've heard that Saw Palmetto works. Has fewer side effects than prescriptions. It's billed as an herbal drug, I guess.
Anyone tried it? Anything else?
This is a topic that will surely interest many men here, and I hope the thread will be allowed. It's hard to find a place to discuss things like this, and it's important to most men over 50.
CJ
Member
I've been using Terazosin for about 5 or 6 years. It is prescribed for high blood pressure and frequent nighttime need to piss. It has worked well for me, turning multiple middle of the night need to urinate into usually just one. And the blood pressure is looking good too.
I've never had any noticeable difference when using Saw Palmetto. And annual prostate exams are not showing any significant signs of prostate problems.
kent11202
Member
Texas I had prostate cancer and surgery (brachytherapy) in January 2008. As a result of the surgery, I had to take Terazosin for a couple of months because the surgery aggrevated my prostate - gee, I wonder why.
Ayway, it worked just fine. Personally, I'd be far more leary of self-medication (i.e. herbal stuff) than a prescription medication - take that for what it's worth.
As far as this thread standing is concerned, I'm sure it will be allowed. That said, the American Cancer Society has a website for discussing this (and many other forms of cancer) you might find well worthwhile.
Cancer Survivors Network
Texas Star
US Veteran
Texas I had prostate cancer and surgery (brachytherapy) in January 2008. As a result of the surgery, I had to take Terazosin for a couple of months because the surgery aggrevated my prostate - gee, I wonder why.
Ayway, it worked just fine. Personally, I'd be far more leary of self-medication (i.e. herbal stuff) than a prescription medication - take that for what it's worth.
As far as this thread standing is concerned, I'm sure it will be allowed. That said, the American Cancer Society has a website for discussing this (and many other forms of cancer) you might find well worthwhile.
Cancer Survivors Network
Thanks, but BHP on its own does not involve cancer. Most men over 60 or so just have an enlarged prostate which hampers going (but makes it often very urgent) and causes frequent going while trying to sleep. Wikipedia has a pretty good entry on this. But they inferred that Saw Palmetto was harmless and worth trying. They did acknowledge that it isn't a standard strength or quality, I think, as with most herbals.
My concern with Terazosin is that it lowers blood pressure and I have relatively low blood pressure, anyway. I don't want to risk fainting, a known possible side effect. I was given a home blood pressure measuring unit that I need to learn to use and decide what to do about Terazosin.
Has anyone here had iight-headedness or fainting while using it? How low is your BP, anyway? The doctor said she wants me to be sure that my BP remains at least 100, normally 110-120 without the medication.
How long does Terazosin take to work, once you begin using it?
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Bill_inBouse
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So far a very important discussion on this problem. Almost 62 years of age and starting with BPH on a serious basis. Went to my primary care doc. today for a recommendation to a urologist. Looks like a 3 week wait...getting real tired of getting up 3 or 4 times a night and sometimes not being able to do anything.
Frank46
US Veteran
I take doxasozin and finasteride. I still get up once or twice a night. But its better than it used to be. Frank
Lucky so far, but had one problem stretch about six or seven years ago. I self medicated with a daily zinc supplement and the situation improved after a couple of months. No recurrence. Has anybody else tried zinc supplements either as a primary or supplementary treatment? I am aware of studies that say zinc might actually be implicated in the onset of BPH in some cases.
I've been on Flomax about 6 yrs now, (now the generic Tamsulosin) and normally everything is pretty good. But there are those nights when I still get up 4 or 5 times, or when I try to go and it just drains out with no pressure behind it. Blood pressure is great, everything else is pretty good, (just back and leg problems) so I'm about due next month to see the Doc. again and have another discussion.
Maybe time for a different drug?
Maybe time for a different drug?
kent11202
Member
Texas (and others) I know BPH isn't indicative of prostate cancer, I was just trying to show why "I" had to take it.
At the same time, given almost all of us get it at some point, I thought there might be worthwhile to provide a link for educational purposes.
As an aside, my BP usually runs around 110 over 72 and I had no side effects when taking it - of course we are all diiferent.
Up until today I had never researched Saw Palmetto so I went to the Mayo Clinic website (one of my favorites) Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens [Bartram] Small) - MayoClinic.com and found this:
It looks like it might be worth a shot (no oun intended
"Saw palmetto ( Serenoa repens , Sabal serrulata ) is used popularly in Europe for symptoms associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement of the prostate). Although not considered standard of care in the United States, it is the most popular herbal treatment for this condition.
Historical use of saw palmetto can be traced in the Americas to the Mayans who used it as a tonic and to the Seminoles who took the berries as an expectorant and antiseptic.
Saw palmetto was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia from 1906 to 1917 and in the National Formulary from 1926 to 1950. Saw palmetto extract is a licensed product in several European countries.
Multiple mechanisms of action have been proposed, and saw palmetto appears to possess 5-α-reductase inhibitory activity (thereby preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone). Hormonal/estrogenic effects have also been reported, as well as direct inhibitory effects on androgen receptors and anti-inflammatory properties."
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens [Bartram] Small) - MayoClinic.com
On the down side, Mayo does have one caveat:
"In theory, PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels may be artificially lowered by saw palmetto, based on a proposed mechanism of action of saw palmetto (inhibition of 5-α-reductase). Therefore, there may be a delay in diagnosis of prostate cancer or interference with following PSA levels during treatment or monitoring in men with known prostate cancer."
Just trying to be helpful here....
