How to start the conversation with your doctor.

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The Prostate & BPH

A Natural Part of Aging. Treatable Symptoms. Take Action.

Like clamping a garden hose.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits just below the bladder in men. Passing through the prostate is the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis.3 As men grow older, the prostate gland becomes larger.3 This enlargement of the prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, for short. In some men, the growing prostate may begin to squeeze on the urethra and prevent urine from flowing properly, much like a clamp on a garden hose. The bladder has to work harder to squeeze urine out through the urethra and soon loses the ability to empty itself completely.3 This leads to symptoms such as frequent urination, waking at night to urinate, and a feeling that the bladder is not quite empty. Over time, BPH symptoms, if left untreated, can lead to more serious complications such as inability to urinate, urinary tract infections, and bladder damage.3

Quick Facts:

An enlarged prostate (BPH) is very common in aging men, as common as gray hair.3
BPH can prevent urine from flowing properly.
More than half of men in their 60's and up to 90% of men in their 70's and 80's have some symptoms of BPH.3

For some men, symptoms of BPH can interfere with normal activities, especially sleep and sexual function.4, 5 But there's good news. Treatments are available that can relieve BPH symptoms quickly, sometimes in a matter of days. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and about getting treated.

Talk to Your Doctor—BPH Can Be Treated

BPH is a manageable condition, especially when treated early. Severe BPH symptoms that are left untreated can lead to more serious complications such as inability to urinate, urinary tract infections, and bladder damage.3 So, for the sake of your loved ones, for the sake of your health, don't "tough it out." Talk to your doctor about your symptoms, especially if they are bothering you or interfering with your normal activities. Your doctor may refer you to a urologist—a physician who specializes in treating problems of the urinary tract and male reproductive organs. But the only way your doctor will know that you have symptoms is if you speak up!

References

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Data on file, Watson Pharma, Inc.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prostate enlargement: benign prostatic hyperplasia. NIH Publication No. 07-3012. June 2006.
Bruskewitz RC. Quality of life and sexual function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Rev Urol. 2003;5(2):72-80
Roberts RO, Jacobsen SJ, Rhodes T, et al. Natural history of prostatism: impaired health status in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. J Urol. 1997;157:1711-1717
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Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (U.S. Dept Health and Human Services): Quick Tips When Talking With Your Doctor. Available at: http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/quicktips/doctalk.htm.
American Urological Association. AUA guideline on management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (2003). Chapter 1: Diagnosis and treatment recommendations. J Urol. 2003;170:530-547
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National Institute on Aging: Talking With Your Doctor. Available at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/TalkingWithYourDoctor/. Accessed March 5, 2009.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia from NIH: Enlarged Prostate. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000381.htm. Accessed March 5, 2009.
Shvartzman P, Borkan JM, Stoliar L, et al. Second-hand prostatism: effects of prostatic symptoms on spouses’ quality of life, daily routines and family relationships. Family Pract. 2001;18:610-613.
Kuritzky L. A primary care physician’s perspective on benign prostatic hyperplasia. Rev Urol. 2003;5(suppl 5):S42-S48.
Wolters R, et al: Lower urinary tract symptoms: social influence is more important than symptoms in seeking medical care. BJU Int. 2002;90:655–661.
Rosen RC, Giuliano F, Cason CC. Sexual dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Eur Urol 2005;47:824–837.
Ponholzer A, Madersbacher S. Lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction; Links for diagnosis, management and treatment. Int J Impot Res. 2007;19:544-550.
Straus SM, Kors JA, De Bruin ML, et al. Prolonged QTc interval and risk of sudden cardiac death in a population of older adults. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006;47:362-367.
Nomiya M, Yamaguchi O. A quantitative analysis of mRNA expression of alpha 1 and beta-adrenoceptor subtypes and their functional roles in human normal and obstructed bladders. J Urol. 2003;170(2 Pt 1):649-653.
Murata S, Taniguchi T, Takahashi M, et al. Tissue selectivity of KMD-3213, an alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor antagonist, in human prostate and vasculature. J Urol. 2000;164:578-583.
Stafford-Smith M, Bartz R, Wilson K, et al. Alpha-adrenergic mRNA subtype expression in the human nasal turbinate. Can J Anesth. 2007;54:549-555.
Cialis® (tadalafil) full Prescribing Information. Indianapolis IN: Eli Lilly and Co.; June 2007.
Viagra® (sildenafil) full Prescribing Information. New York, NY: Pfizer Inc. October 2006.
Levitra® (vardenafil) full Prescribing Information. Kenilworth, NJ: Schering Corporation.
McConnell JD, Roehrborn CG, Bautista OM, et al. The long-term effect of doxazosin, finasteride, and combination therapy on the clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia. N Engl J Med. 2003;18:2387-2398
Issa MM, Regan T. Medical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia—present and future impact. Am J Manag Care. 2007;13:S4-S9.
Wei JT, Calhoun E, Jacobsen SJ. Urologic Diseases in America Project: benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2008;179(5 Suppl.):S75-S80.
Berry SJ, Coffey DS, Walsh PC, et al. The development of human benign prostatic hyperplasia with age. J Urol. 1984;132:474.
Hernández C, Estivill E, Prieto M, et al. Nocturia in Spanish patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Curr Med Res Opin. 2008;24(4):1033-1038
Schwinn DA, Roehrborn CG alpha-1 Adrenoreceptor subtypes and lower urinary tract symptoms. Int J Urol. 2008; 15:193-199.
http://www.dictionary.com
Atlas of Human Anatomy, Frank H. Netter, MD, Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Summit, NJ, 1989.

RAPAFLO is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

RAPAFLO is not indicated for the treatment of hypertension.

Important Safety Information

RAPAFLO is approved to treat male urinary symptoms due to BPH, also called an enlarged prostate. RAPAFLO should not be used to treat high blood pressure. Only your doctor can tell if you have BPH, not a more serious condition like prostate cancer. RAPAFLO should not be used in patients with severe liver or kidney disease as well as those taking certain antifungal or HIV drugs. Avoid driving or hazardous tasks until you know how RAPAFLO will affect you, as a sudden drop in blood pressure may occur, rarely resulting in fainting. If considering cataract surgery, tell your eye surgeon you're currently taking RAPAFLO or have taken it in the past. Side effects include orgasm with reduced or no semen, dizziness, diarrhea, lightheadedness upon standing or sitting up abruptly, headache, swelling of the throat and nasal passages, and stuffy nose.