There are many conditions in the human body that have no trigger factors other than speculations of the possible causes and a common cause like age. Within the gender biased diseases and disorders, the male oriented diseases and conditions are no longer rare. One such condition is BPH, that is benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is also termed as benign prostatic hypertrophy. This is a condition that affects the male reproductive gland, and causes the enlargement of the prostate gland. The condition affects many men as they age. However, this is a non cancerous enlargement of the prostate and does not pose any serious risk or any chances for prostate cancer. The exact causes are still not known, and most experts blame the imbalance in sex hormones due to age as being the reason. The enlargement of the gland causes pressure on the urethra, hence causing some bladder, kidney and urinary problems. Most of the men affected will have symptoms that may be annoying and bothersome. The treatment for enlarged prostate is necessary to avoid complications. Depending on the signs and symptoms, the doctor will decide on the treatment options. The most common treatment today is medications. There is also self care and surgery that are among the treatment options. But medications form the basics and widely advised option for effective treatment. Medication is advised when symptoms interfere with you normal bodily functions and show no signs of resolving or fading with time. So what are the most effective and commonly advised BPH medication? We have a list made below that gives you all the information and details about the medicines used to treat an enlarged prostate. Medicines Studies have proven that most cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia have their symptoms relieved without any treatment. The American Urological Association strongly states to avoid starting medications in a hurry. It is advised to wait and monitor the condition, if or not the signs and symptoms are severe and bothersome that can create further complications. ◑ Alpha Blockers: Alpha blockers work by affecting the smooth muscle tissues in the prostate and the bladder opening. Their action implies to relax these muscle tissues, so as to relieve symptoms causing any urinary problems. However, they do not reduce or shrink the size of the prostate. They are advised in case of any moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms, and start working in 2 to 3 days of starting the treatment. Symptoms show improvement in 2 to 3 weeks time. The most common alpha blockers are listed in the following.

Brand Name	Generic Name
Cardura	Doxazosin mesylate
Flomax	Tamsulosin hydrochloride
Hytrin	Terazosin hydrochloride
Rapaflo	Silodosin
Uroxatral	Alfuzosin hydrochloride

This medicine is known to have a few side effects too. Alpha blockers will result in minor issues like fatigue and feeling of weakness, dizziness and lightheadedness, headaches and congestion in the nose. These can be triggered in case the blood pressure drops if the patient stands or sits suddenly. There are also other known effects of alpha blockers like retrograde ejaculation, that is the semen ejaculates in the bladder instead of its normal course. However, all these side effects are normal and will not cause serious harm. They will eventually go once you stop the treatment. One must always consult with a doctor before taking alpha blockers, and consider all the effects, and also in case of taking any other medications like those for treating erectile dysfunction, as these may worsen the side effects. Correct dosage is important to keep the side effects minimum. ◐ 5-alpha Reductase Enzyme Inhibitors: These drugs work by shrinking the enlarged prostate. They also work on the levels of androgen hormones, that is also responsible for the growth of the organ. This drug blocks the release of certain enzymes, hence suppressing the enlargement. This also works with reducing symptoms that create difficultly when passing urine. The time taken for these drugs to show improvement is longer. It will take almost 5 to 6 months for the results to show. But with a successful course of this drug, future complications like surgery can be avoided. Common 5-alpha reductase enzyme inhibitors are listed below.

Brand Name	Generic Name
Avodart	Dutasteride
Proscar	Finasteride

The side effects of this drug include decreased sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculatory dysfunction (the amount of semen ejaculated is very less). One may also notice tenderness in the breasts. Drowsiness and headaches are also some side effects. Some other facts to be considered are that with 5-alpha reductase enzyme inhibitors, the patient has to continue the course in order to keep the symptoms from coming back. It has also been observed that not all cases of reducing the size of the prostate help in relieving the symptoms. These drugs are also only advised in case of a serious enlarged prostate. However, they are less effective as compared to alpha blockers. Doctors advise a combination of 5-alpha reductase enzyme inhibitors and alpha blockers for better results. Strict consulting must be done for this drug due to some of its serious side effects. For men planning a family, it is advised to avoid the use of these, as they are also known to cause minor birth defects in the child. Antibiotics and Others There are certain antibiotics that are advised for effective treatment. They are used to primarily relieve the symptoms in case of chronic prostatitis (swelling and inflammation of the prostate). Ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are some common drugs that are used. Apart from medicines, there are herbal remedies like Saw palmetto that is considered as a herbal treatment. However, there are contradicting reviews about this herb being effective to treat BPH symptoms. Treating BPH solely depends on the severity of the symptoms. Make sure to discuss all the possibilities with your doctor, before opting for any medication whatsoever.