ProstateCommons.com

See all of our health sites at www.HealthCentral.com
Sunday, July 20, 2008

Prostate Drug Information

There are a number of medications your doctor may prescribe to treat the prostate. Here you’ll find a list of drugs commonly prescribed for prostate conditions with links to information about how to take them, interactions with other meds and common side effects.

Featured
  • Avodart Oral
    This medication is used to shrink an enlarged prostate in men with a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. It works by lowering amounts of the hormone responsible for prostate growth (dihydrotestosterone). Dutasteride reduces urinary blockage and improves urine flow.
  • Bactrim Oral
    This medication is a combination of two antibiotics used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections (e.g., middle ear, urine, respiratory and intestinal infections). It is also used to prevent and treat a certain type of pneumonia (pneumocystis-type).
  • Cardura XL Oral
    This medication is used to treat the symptoms of a condition of the prostate gland called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate). It is an alpha blocker that works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder neck and prostate. Relaxing these muscles leads to relief of symptoms of BPH such as the feeling of needing to urinate frequently or urgently, weak stream, difficulty in beginning the flow of urine, and the need to urinate during the middle of the night.
More
  • Casodex Oral
    Bicalutamide is used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to other areas of the body. It is used in combination with hormone treatment. This medication works by blocking the action of male hormones in the prostate, slowing growth of the tumors.
  • Cipro Oral
    This medication is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
  • Doryx Oral
    This medication is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections, including those that cause acne. This medication is known as a tetracycline antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
  • Erythromycin Oral
    This medication is used to treat or prevent a wide variety of bacterial infections. Erythromycin is known as a macrolide antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
  • Estrogens, Conjugated Vaginal Vagl
    This medication contains female estrogen hormones and is usually given to women who no longer produce the amount of estrogen they produced before menopause. It is a very effective treatment for reducing vaginal menopause symptoms (e.g., dryness, burning, itching).
  • Eulexin Oral
    This medication is used in men with other medications and sometimes with radiation treatments to treat prostate cancer. Flutamide belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-androgens (anti-testosterone). Testosterone, a natural hormone in men, helps prostate cancer to grow and spread. Flutamide works by blocking the effects of testosterone, thereby slowing the growth and spread of prostate cancer.
  • Flomax Oral
    This medication is used to treat the symptoms of a prostate gland condition called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate). Tamsulosin is an alpha-blocker that works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder neck and prostate. Relaxing these muscles leads to relief of symptoms of BPH such as the feeling of needing to urinate frequently or urgently, weak stream, difficulty in beginning the flow of urine, and the need to urinate during the middle of the night.
  • Floxin Oral
    This medication is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Ofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
  • Hytrin Oral
    Terazosin is used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat high blood pressure. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.
  • Lupron Depot IM
    Leuprolide is used to treat advanced prostate cancer in men. It is not a cure. Most types of prostate cancer need the male hormone testosterone to grow and spread. Leuprolide works by reducing the amount of testosterone that the body makes. This helps slow or stop the growth of cancer cells and helps relieve symptoms such as painful/difficult urination.
  • Macrodantin Oral
    This medication is used to treat or prevent certain urinary tract infections.
  • Minipress Oral
    Prazosin is used with or without other medications to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.
  • Nilandron Oral
    This medication is used in men along with surgery (removal of the testicles) or other medications to treat prostate cancer. Nilutamide belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-androgens (anti-testosterone). Testosterone, a natural hormone in men, helps prostate cancer to grow and spread. Nilutamide works by blocking the effects of testosterone, thereby slowing the growth and spread of prostate cancer.
  • Penicillin V Potassium Oral
    Penicillin is an antibiotic used to treat and prevent a wide variety of bacterial infections. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
  • Prednisone Oral
    Prednisone is a corticosteroid hormone (glucocorticoid). It decreases your immune system's response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions. It is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood disorders, breathing problems, certain cancers, eye problems, immune system diseases, and skin diseases.
  • Premarin Oral
    This medication is a female hormone and is usually given to women who no longer produce the amount of estrogen they produced before menopause. It is a very effective treatment for reducing a common menopause symptom (intense feelings of warmth and sweating known as hot flashes). If you need treatment only for vaginal menopause symptoms (e.g., vaginal dryness), products applied directly inside the vagina should be considered before medications that are taken by mouth, absorbed through the skin, or injected.
  • Proscar Oral
    Finasteride is used to shrink an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) in adult men. It may be used alone or taken in combination with other medications to reduce symptoms of BPH and may also reduce the need for surgery.
  • Striant Bucl
    This medication contains testosterone. It is used for hormone replacement in men who are not able to produce enough testosterone (e.g., hypogonadism). This medication is absorbed through your gums, enters your bloodstream, and helps your body reach normal testosterone levels.
  • Tetracycline Oral
    Tetracycline is used to treat a wide variety of infections, including acne. It is an antibiotic that works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
  • UROXATRAL Oral
    This medication is used to treat the symptoms of a prostate gland condition called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate). It is an alpha blocker that works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder neck and prostate. Relaxing these muscles leads to relief of symptoms of BPH such as the feeling of needing to urinate frequently or urgently, difficulty in beginning the flow of urine, weak stream, and the need to urinate during the middle of the night.
  • Zoladex SubQ
    Goserelin is used in men to treat prostate cancer. It is used in women to treat certain breast cancers or a certain uterus disorder (endometriosis). It is also used in women to thin the lining of the uterus (endometrium) in preparation for a procedure to treat abnormal uterine bleeding.