They are now being prescribed for most men with symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia whose prostates are not significantly enlarged. They are, of course, often a good choice for men with BPH and hypertension. Research also now indicates that part of their beneficial action for BPH patients is their ability to promote a natural process called apoptosis, in which cells in the prostate gland self-destruct. Because they work fairly quickly, have no effect on sexual drive, and are the least expensive BPH treatment, even men with moderately enlarged prostates might try them before undertaking more intense treatments. By relaxing the muscles in and around the prostate, alpha blockers increase urinary flow and improve symptoms, sometimes significantly.
Improvement occurs within days to weeks.
Because these drugs are short-acting, symptoms return very quickly once a man stops taking the medication. Alfuzosin is an alpha blocker being used in Europe. This risk can be reduced by taking the medication close to bedtime. Tamsulosin tends to have less of a negative effect on blood pressure than the older alpha blockers. The drugs can also cause fatigue, nasal congestion, and decreased ejaculate.