Proscar and saw palmetto have both been proved to be effective treatments for issues relating to the prostate. Saw palmetto is widely used in Europe to treat enlarged prostates and is the most popular herbal treatment in the United States. Proscar is a prescription medication that has been clinically proven to reduce the need for prostate surgery by over 50 percent in men taking the medication.
What is BPH?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is simply an enlarged prostate, a condition that occurs naturally as men get older. Approximately 50 percent of men in their 60s will have some prostate disorder and white males with a history of prostate problems in their family are more likely to develop problems. Left untreated, an enlarged prostate may lead to acute urinary retention, which is an inability to urinate, and requires the insertion of a catheter to drain the bladder. Other complications that may arise from BPH include urinary tract infections and bladder or kidney damage. Surgery is often used to reduce the size of the prostate.
Proscar
Proscar is a 5 mg tablet of finasteride and was introduced in 1992. It works by interfering with the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which causes the prostate to grow larger. During clinical testing, it was found that those on Proscar saw their prostates shrink by an average of 17.9 percent, while those taking a placebo saw a 14 percent enlargement in prostate size. A minimum of four months was needed to notice any benefits from Proscar. The most common side effects were impotence, decreased libido and a reduction in the amount of ejaculate.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is used to treat a wide variety of symptoms, but can only claim to have the backing of the medical community as a treatment for prostate problems, where it has been widely tested. The Mayo Clinic states there is good scientific evidence for use of saw palmetto as a treatment for BPH, but says more studies are needed to determine its effectiveness in other areas. During clinical studies, a daily dose of 320 mg of saw palmetto extract was used. Saw palmetto is considered a natural supplement, but there are several side effects noted, with the most common being diarrhea or constipation, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting.
Comparison
While most herbal remedies are lacking in the clinical research department, the same cannot be said of saw palmetto in relation to enlarged prostates. In the March 2003 issue of "American Family Physician," Dr. Andrea E. Gordon and Dr. Allen E. Shaughnessy examined 21 previous clinical studies into the effectiveness of saw palmetto to treat enlarged prostates. They concluded that saw palmetto is as effective as Proscar and costs less. Before making a decision on which product is better, it is advisable to speak with your doctor regarding your individual prognosis.
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