Work

Characteristics of men using non-prescription medicines to treat their lower urinary tract symptoms

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Many men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) opt for self-management with non-prescription treatments. We wished to better characterize these men and understand their motivation and experience. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous survey among 477 users of non-prescription treatments for LUTS. RESULTS: Participating men had a mean age (64.3 ± 7.8 years) and IPSS (17.7 ± 7.9 points) comparable to users of prescription medicines in non-interventional studies, indicating that they were not primarily motivated by mild symptom intensity. They had realistic expectations on efficacy and tolerability. While reasons for preference for a non-prescription treatment varied, 40.0% stated a wish to avoid 'chemical' and, vice-versa, to use 'natural' treatments. The choice of a specific treatment was largely driven by prior experience, but recommendations from a physician or the pharmacy as well as advertisements also played a role. About two thirds of participants reported to be repeat users and purchasing the same product each time. However, less than a quarter of participants appear to use the non-prescription treatment continuously. CONCLUSIONS: Men self-managing their LUTS/BPH are similar to those using prescription drugs based on age and symptom severity. Their main reasons to prefer non-prescription medicines relate to the wish to avoid 'chemical' and the preference for 'natural' treatments. Most of them are repeat users of the same product but use it only intermittently.

Source: World Journal of Urology

DOI: 10.1007/s00345-025-05560-1

Authors: Martin C. Michel, Kurt Miller, Tim Schneider, Christian Ude, Matthias Oelke