Question

A 64-year-old man presents complaining of difficulty initiating urination, a weak urine stream, and inability to completely empty the bladder. Suspecting benign prostatic hyperplasia, you prescribe tamulosin and advise the patient that this will:

Decrease the size of the prostate.
Relax the bladder neck muscles to ease urination.
Eradicate bacteria that cause inflammation of the prostate.
Reverse hormonal changes that cause prostate enlargement

Answer 1

Tamsulosin prescribed for BPH symptoms in a 64-year-old man works by relaxing the bladder neck muscles and muscles in the prostate, making it easier to urinate and alleviating symptoms of urinary obstruction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 64-year-old man in this scenario is presenting symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition in older men. The medication prescribed, tamsulosin, is known to relax the bladder neck muscles and muscle fibers in the prostate itself, thus easing the flow of urine. Tamsulosin's primary effect is to relieve the symptoms by reducing the muscle tension that contributes to urinary obstruction and symptoms, rather than reducing the prostate size, eradicating bacteria, or reversing hormonal changes.

It's important to note that while tamsulosin helps with the symptoms of BPH, it does not change the underlying condition, which means it does not decrease the actual size of the prostate, nor does it have antibacterial properties or affect hormonal balance directly. In some cases, medications that shrink the prostate or surgery might be required if symptoms are severe or do not improve with medications like tamsulosin.