October 09, 2008

Rapaflo Approved for Enlarged Prostate

THURSDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The once-daily alpha blocker Rapaflo (silodosin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the medical term for an enlarged prostate.

BPH is the top reason men visit urologists. Symptoms include decreased urine flow, more frequent urination, and excessive urination at night (nocturia).

The likelihood of developing the condition increases as men age, and more than 90 percent of men over age 80 probably have BPH, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Rapaflo causes the smooth muscles of the prostate to relax, leading to improved urine flow, the manufacturer, Watson Pharmaceuticals, said in a news release. Common side effects include retrograde ejaculation (a condition in which semen enters the bladder during ejaculation) and dizziness.

More information

To learn more about BPH, visit Medline Plus.

-- Scott Roberts

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