VIDEO ANSWER
Bladder pills and dementia risk
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What medicines can achieve
Dutasteride and finasteride can reduce prostate size and, in selected patients, the long-term risk of urinary retention or surgery. Therefore, “none of the pills solves the problem” should not be understood to mean that medicines are ineffective.
Taking several medicines does not by itself determine the need for surgery: response, adverse effects, symptoms and complications are assessed with the urologist.
- Roehrborn et al. The Effects of Combination Therapy with Dutasteride and Tamsulosin on Clinical Outcomes in Men with Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: 4-Year Results from the CombAT Study. European Urology. 2010;57(1):123–131.
- European Association of Urology. Management of Non-neurogenic Male LUTS: Disease Management.
Editorial clarification based on the cited sources. It does not establish a new medical review of the video.
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Antimuscarinics block acetylcholine not only in the bladder, but throughout the body, causing dry mouth, less saliva is produced, which is often very annoying, constipation, blurred vision, and in older people, it can cause or contribute to cognitive decline. This last point is very important. There are studies linking the long-term use of anticholinergics with an increased risk of dementia.
It's not cause for alarm, but it's something you should know and discuss with your doctor.