Flomax or similar drugs, called alpha blockers, do work well in many patients, but not in all. Studies have shown that the combination of an alpha blocker and an antiandrogen, such as Proscar or Avodart work better. The downside of the antiandrogens is that they lower PSA levels and might mask important changes indicating the development of prostate cancer if they are not monitored and interpreted very carefully. (See other Quest articles on the finasteride controversy on this website.)