Physician Support
Prostatitis		  
 

Viadur is indicated in the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer and not for prostatitis. Bayer is not responsible for, and does not endorse, any of the information found on this page.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland that can be sudden and acute, or reoccurring and chronic.1 This disease often is accompanied by a burning sensation,2 by a strong and frequent urge to urinate that often results in only small amounts of urine, and/or by pain in the lower back or abdomen.3 Although the causes of prostatitis are often unclear, the disease is often caused by a bacteria, fungus, or virus.4

Since there are various potential causes, prostatitis is classified into three different types:5

  • Acute infectious prostatitis (usually caused by bacteria and is treated with antimicrobial medication or antibiotic).6
  • Chronic infectious prostatitis (also caused by bacteria and also requires antimicrobial medication or antibiotic).7
  • Noninfectious prostatitis (prostatitis that is not caused by bacteria or other infection).8
What are some problems prostatitis can lead to?

Prostatitis can lead to genital, back, lower abdominal, perineal (the area between the scrotum and anus), penile, or scrotal pain, as well as blood in the urine or painful ejaculation.9 Men also may experience some urinary symptoms, such as increased urinary frequency, difficulty urinating, burning or painful urination. Having prostatitis does not increase your risk of getting any other prostate disease.10

How do I choose a treatment?

Your treatment depends on the type of prostatitis you have. As with other diseases of the prostate, the most important part of treatment is regularly meeting with your doctor and discussing your current symptoms, problems, etc.11

If you have acute infectious prostatitis, your doctor may recommend you take antimicrobial medication for seven to 14 days.12 Almost all acute infections can be cured with this treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, hospitalization or analgesic drugs may be needed to relieve pain or discomfort.13

If you have chronic infectious prostatitis, you may require antimicrobial medication for a longer period of time — usually four to 12 weeks.14 One treatment option is ciprofloxacin — Cipro®, which is used in the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis caused by susceptible indicated organisms.15 More information is available at www.cipro.com. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 60 percent of all cases of chronic infectious prostatitis clear up with antimicrobial treatments.16 For cases that do not respond to this treatment, long-term, low-dose anti-microbial therapy may be recommended to relieve the symptoms.17 In some cases, surgical removal of the infected portions of the prostate may be advised.18

If you have noninfectious prostatitis, you do not need antimicrobial medication.19 Depending on your symptoms, you may receive one of a variety of treatments. These may range from medication to surgery, and may even involve behavioral therapies, such as biofeedback, to correct certain problems associated with prostatitis.20

Call the doctor if:

 

 

Doctor’s instructions:

 

 

Viadur is indicated in the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer and not for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

References available at: http://www.viadur.com

  

Important Safety Considerations
Viadur should not be used by patients who are allergic to the drug leuprolide. Viadur should not be used by women or children and was not studied in women or children. Viadur, like other similar medications, causes a temporary increase of testosterone in the blood during the first week of treatment. During this initial period, patients may experience worsening of symptoms or onset of new symptoms including bone pain, nervous system distribances, blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, and spinal cord compression. During treatment, the most common side effects reported throughout the body were hot flashes, lack of energy, breast enlargement, depression, and sweating. The most common side effects reported where the implant was inserted in the arm were bruising and burning.

See Your Healthcare Provider
Remember, your doctor or health care provider is the single best source of information regarding you and your health. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health, your symptoms, or your medication.

This information does not take the place of your doctor’s advice or instructions but should help answer some of the questions you might have about prostate cancer therapies.
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Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals
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© Copyright 2007 Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. Viadur is a trademark of ALZA Corporation under license to Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. DUROS® is a registered trademark of ALZA Corporation.

The information provided on Bayer products is only intended for the United States audience. Regulatory requirements, regulations, laws, and distribution of information about drug products may vary from country to country. Product names and indications (product uses) also may be different in different countries. The prescribing information provided here is based on United States labeling and may not be appropriate outside of the United States.