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Prostate HealthProstate Health

Medicines for the urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia: alpha blockers that relax the bladder outlet, and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors that act on prostate size itself.

Flomax

Tamsulosin

0.2 · 0.4mg

Tamsulosin 0.2mg and 0.4mg modified-release capsules, used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. A selective alpha-1 blocker.

From$0.74/ tabletView

Hytrin

Terazosin

1 · 2 · 5mg

Terazosin 1mg, 2mg and 5mg tablets, used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypertension. An alpha-1 blocker taken by mouth.

From$0.98/ tabletView

Uroxatral

Alfuzosin

10mg

Alfuzosin 10mg prolonged-release tablets, used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. A selective alpha1 antagonist in the prostate.

From$1.39/ tabletView

Jalyn

Dutasteride, Tamsulosin

0.4/0.5mg

Dutasteride with tamsulosin as a hard capsule, used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. One shrinks the prostate, the other relaxes its muscle.

From$3.23/ tabletView

Avodart

Dutasteride

0.5mg

Dutasteride 0.5mg soft capsules, used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia. A 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.

From$0.92/ tabletView

Dutas

Dutasteride

0.5mg

Dutas is dutasteride 0.5mg soft capsules for benign prostatic hyperplasia, blocking both type 1 and type 2 5-alpha-reductase isoenzymes.

From$3.15/ tabletView

Key points

  • Alpha blockers can ease urinary symptoms within days; prostate-shrinking medicines work gradually and are judged over months.
  • Dutasteride lowers PSA readings by roughly half, so any clinician interpreting a PSA test needs to know it is being taken.
  • Inability to pass urine, blood in urine, fever with urinary pain or severe lower-abdominal pain needs prompt care.

The listings are for comparison; suitability and supply depend on clinician and pharmacy checks, stock, destination rules and any prescription requirements.

How the medicine groups differ

  • Alpha blockers: tamsulosin, alfuzosin and terazosin relax smooth muscle around the prostate and bladder outlet. Dizziness and low blood pressure are the common trade-off, and terazosin is also used for high blood pressure.
  • 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors: dutasteride reduces prostate volume over months rather than days.
  • Combination: Jalyn pairs the two mechanisms in one capsule, for symptoms an alpha blocker alone has not settled.

What these medicines are used for

The linked condition is benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urinary symptoms still need assessment, because infection, stones and prostate cancer can present the same way. Medicines for prostate cancer are listed under oncology support, and dutasteride’s separate use in pattern hair loss sits under hair loss.

Important safety checks

Blood pressure, other urinary medicines and planned cataract surgery all bear on treatment: alpha blockers are linked to intraoperative floppy iris syndrome, which a surgeon needs warning about. Combining an alpha blocker with a medicine for erectile dysfunction can drop blood pressure further.

When to seek urgent care

Get urgent help for inability to urinate, severe lower-abdominal pain with a full bladder, visible blood in urine, fever with flank or urinary pain, fainting or a severe allergic reaction.

Further reading