Avodart for Prostate Enlargement
More men in Singapore above the age of 60 are having difficulty passing urine because of an enlarged prostate. In fact, almost half of those who seek treatment end up on lifelong medication; 10 percent need surgery. But there is good news. There is now a new benign prostatic hyperplasia drug that halves the risk of acute urinary retention and the need for surgery. 82-year-old Sidney has been on medication for the past 10 years to control the size of his prostate. When the prostate enlarges, it protrudes into the bladder and causes urine retention. Two weeks ago, complications arose and Sidney was advised to undergo surgery. Asked if he wanted to go for surgery, he said, "I have to think it over first because I feel very weak. I've got all sorts of sickness. I just don't want to go through it now." Instead, Sidney opted for the new drug, Avodart, that is supposed to shrink the prostate. Clinical tests found that this drug can halve the risk of urinary retention and the need for surgery. Patients take one pill each day; each pill costs about $3 to $4, about the same as similar drugs on the market, but doctors say the advantage of this new drug is that it has fewer side-effects. "It has been one of the most important drugs this year because we have been waiting for a good medication with low side-effects for so many men who are developing this chronic progressive condition called BPH. So if there's one effective treatment, then as a surgeon, we don't have to operate anymore," said Dr Christopher Cheng, head of Singapore General Hospital's urology department. Patients will, however, have to take the drug for life.
But for elderly men who fear surgery, this new drug could be the best option they have, for now.
Sam Fields
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