Final answer:
Alpha-blockers for BPH improve urinary symptoms and can be dosed once daily with minimal blood pressure changes. However, they do not cause a significant decrease in prostate size; this effect is more commonly associated with medications like finasteride and dutasteride.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alpha-blockers, as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), are associated with several effects and potential side effects. However, the statement that alpha-blockers are associated with a 25% decrease in prostate size is incorrect.
Alpha blockers primarily work by relaxing the smooth muscles of the bladder neck and prostate, which relieves urinary symptoms, but they do not significantly reduce the size of the prostate. Patients may experience improvement in symptoms within 2-3 weeks of starting treatment, there is often minimal change in blood pressure, a convenient once-daily dosing is possible, and side effects may include dizziness and fatigue but not a significant reduction in prostate size. Some other medications, such as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride, can actually reduce prostate size.