Men with slow urine flow from enlargement of the prostate
gland (known as benign
prostatic hyperplasia or BPH)
should avoid anything that makes the situation worse—and
that includes some medications. The most common offenders
are over-the-counter cold and allergy remedies. Now,
some research suggests that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, may
also affect the prostate’s function, reports
the September 2007 issue of Harvard Men’s
Health Watch.
Researchers in the Netherlands found that the risk
of acute urinary retention (severe difficulty urinating)
was twice as high in men taking NSAIDs as in men who
were not using them. By contrast, though, researchers
in America evaluating the long-term effects of NSAIDs
on the prostate found that daily NSAID use was linked
to a reduced risk of developing BPH symptoms and slow
urinary flow rates.
The American study evaluated the onset of BPH symptoms.
There is emerging evidence that inflammation may play
a role in development of BPH. If that’s the case,
regular NSAID use might delay the onset of symptoms.
The Dutch study, which evaluated established cases
of acute urinary retention, found that men who had
recently begun taking NSAIDs were at the highest risk.
These men may already have been developing BPH for
years before taking the NSAIDs. And the NSAIDs may
have caused trouble by acting on the bladder, not the
prostate.
Harvard Men’s Health Watch suggests that if
men notice an increase in BPH symptoms while taking
an NSAID, they should inform their doctors and reduce
or avoid NSAIDs.
Also in this issue:
- How to increase “good” cholesterol
- Help for restless legs syndrome
- MRIs and stents: Incompatible?
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