If you’re currently taking medication for an enlarged prostate (BPH), you’ve taken a proactive and logical first step in managing your symptoms. For many men, medications are the starting point of their treatment journey, and they can provide noticeable relief.
But as a specialist who has guided thousands of men through this journey in the Arlington & DFW area, Dr. Bevan-Thomas knows that for many patients, medication is just that—a starting point, not a final destination. This page is designed to help you understand how your medication works and to explore what the future of your BPH treatment could look like.
Your prescription likely falls into one of two main categories, each with a different job:
While these drugs can be effective, relying on them year after year often leads to a new set of challenges. Many men come to our office expressing similar frustrations:
The Daily Hassle & Cost: Having to remember a pill every single day, dealing with refills, and paying for a prescription month after month can become a significant burden.
The Unwanted Side Effects: Medications are not without consequences. Dizziness, fatigue, nasal congestion, and even sexual side effects like decreased libido or issues with ejaculation are known risks.
The Diminishing Returns: For many men, the medication that worked well in the first year or two gradually loses its effectiveness as the body adapts and the underlying blockage progresses.
The Core Issue: Treating Symptoms, Not the Problem: This is the most important reality. Medications are a lifelong management strategy for symptoms, but they don’t fix the root cause, the physical obstruction from the enlarged prostate.
If the challenges above resonate with you, it may be time to learn about a solution that addresses the root cause of your symptoms. You don’t have to plan your life around a daily pill or settle for incomplete relief.
If your current medication is working well for you, that is excellent news. The goal of any BPH treatment is to improve your quality of life.
However, it’s important to look at the long-term data. Studies have shown that medical therapy for BPH can have a failure rate of nearly 40% within 5 years, and that can rise to as high as 60% within 10 years. This means that for a majority of men, medication is not a final destination.
Our philosophy is simple: Keep your options open. It’s important to realize that modern, minimally invasive procedures routinely perform much better than medications for providing significant, long-term relief. You don’t need to settle for the mediocrity of ‘just getting by’ with your symptoms. Understanding the full range of treatments can empower you to make the best decision to truly regain your quality of life, now and for the years to come.
No. 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are typically effective only for men with prostate glands larger than 50 grams. For smaller glands, these medications may offer limited benefit and still carry side effect risks.
Studies show that up to 40% of men experience treatment failure within 5 years, rising to 60% at 10 years. This decline is often due to the medication treating symptoms, not the underlying obstruction.
Minimally invasive procedures such as those performed by Dr. Bevan-Thomas provide long-term relief by targeting the physical cause of BPH. Unlike medications, they can eliminate the need for ongoing treatment.
Yes. 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors have been associated with sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction and reduced libido, affecting nearly 1 in 5 men. Some also report mood-related issues like depression.
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Dr. Rich Bevan-Thomas is a founding member or Urology Partners of North Texas.
801 West I-20, suite 1
Arlington, TX 76017
First Floor USMD Hospital Arlington
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