What Are the Treatments for Prostate Infection?

Prostate infections (or prostatitis, as it is medically known) are caused by bacteria in the prostate. As with most any bacterial infection, the treatment lies with antibiotics. But prostate infections come with a variety of symptoms, too--like problems with regular urinary function and often serious pain. These prostate infection symptoms are typically treated with a combination of alpha blockers and anti-inflammatory medications.

Antibiotics

• Bacterial infections of most any kind are typically treated first with some type of antibiotic drug. Usually these drugs are administered over a 10- to 14-day period. Antibiotics that are generally considered first include doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and fluorquinolones. If the prostatitis is chronic, the antibiotics may be necessary for up to 12 weeks.

Alpha Blockers

• Alpha blockers may be able to help relieve some of the more uncomfortable symptoms of a prostate infection and are thus often combined with antibiotics to form a more complete treatment package. Alpha-blockers help smaller blood vessels stay open and generally have a calming effect on certain muscle groups. For prostate infection situations in particular, alpha blockers can help treat urinary issues that often result from the infection. Oft-prescribed alpha-blockers include doxazosin, terazosin, alfuzosin, prazosin, and tamsulosin.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications

• Anti-inflammatory drugs help to reduce swelling (important for the prostate, since a swollen prostate is a very common malady), relieve pain and, of course, reduce inflammation. Drugs that fall into this category include Voltaren, Motrin, Advil, Daypro, Relafen and Aleve.