If you have already reached the age of 40 and want to start taking care of your prostate, health experts want you to focus on two keys: attending routine check-ups and avoiding excessive consumption of certain medications.

These drugs can worsen urinary symptoms or alter the normal function of the bladder, which come from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), known as its enlargement.

In this sense, the medications indicated are: antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, decongestants, diuretics and opiates.

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4 medications that can damage the prostate

1. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are commonly used to treat allergies, nasal congestion, and flu-like symptoms. Although they are frequently used, doctors at the Teknon Medical Center in Spain warn that they can affect men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

These drugs reduce the contraction capacity of the bladder muscle, making it difficult to empty completely. This can lead to a feeling of incomplete emptying, increased urinary frequency and discomfort when urinating.

2. Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants, used in some psychiatric treatments, may also influence urinary function. They act on the nervous system and can interfere with the mechanisms that control the bladder.

The main effect is the decrease in the contraction force of the muscles responsible for expelling urine, which favors urinary retention. For this reason, specialists recommend always informing the doctor if there is a diagnosis of BPH before starting this type of treatment.

3. Decongestants

Considered by many urologists to be one of the most problematic groups for enlarged prostates, decongestants can quickly aggravate urinary symptoms.

Medications containing substances such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine increase the contraction of the muscles in the neck of the bladder, making it even more difficult to pass urine. In some cases, this can trigger acute urinary retention that requires immediate medical attention.

4. Diuretics and opiates

Diuretics, often used to treat hypertension or heart disease, increase urine production. In men with an enlarged prostate, this can translate into increased urinary urgency and constant nighttime awakenings to go to the bathroom.

Although they do not directly damage the prostate, they do increase pressure on the urinary system and can intensify symptoms.

On the other hand, opiates affect the neuromuscular mechanisms of urination, making normal emptying of the bladder difficult and promoting urinary retention.

Specialists make it clear that no patient should stop treatment on their own. And if you have any symptoms, it is best to consult with a doctor or urologist to safely adjust the medication.