Prostate medications do not decrease muscle mass

A prescription to buy Flomax or another alpha-blocker drug to shrink the prostate may not have a detrimental effect on a man's muscle mass and overall health, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Decreased muscle mass has been a concern associated with the class of drugs. Alpha blockers are thought to lower levels of a compound associated with testosterone, which could affect hormonal levels, leading to frailty. However, the new findings indicate that this is not the case.

For the study, researchers from Boston University administered varying doses of alpha-blocker medications and testosterone supplements to 139 men. The results showed no difference in the changes in body mass composition among the different groups, suggesting that the medications had no effect on the muscles.

Frailty is a common concern among older men. These individuals are also the most likely to require a prescription to buy Flomax to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The new findings suggest that the medication may be safe among this population and will not further increase their chances of losing muscle mass.