Re: Saw Palmetto NOT helpful

Rich256 wrote:
Jason Johnson wrote:
In article <lpsm621kmrrlvh4dc77aj2hhoep8cc7gvs@xxxxxxx>, Ed <ed@xxxxx> wrote:

On Sun, 14 May 2006 17:28:26 -0700, jason@xxxxxxxxxx (Jason Johnson)
wrote:
>In article <s7hf62d1rpls20586s1f9ujqu984tdecbr@xxxxxxx>,
>masonc2XXX@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> I posted the following response Feb 25 :
> >
> Who financed this test?
> > Why was the standard drug, finasteride(?), not included?
> > Discredite the herb; sell more prescription drug that is no better?
> > Mason C
>
> According to Doctor Julian Whitaker's newsletter (dated May 2006),
> "...three of the physicans who authored the study [mentioned below]
> received fees from drug companies who made BPH drugs that directly compete
> with saw palmentto."
> Note: BPH means benign prostatic hyperplasia
>
>This is the study that I was referring to:
>
> >WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- Millions of older American men
> >use the herbal supplement saw palmetto to treat an enlarged prostate, but
> >a new study concludes the product doesn't work.
> >Jason
If saw palmetto is ineffective in relieving the symptoms of BPH, then
whether SP is used by BPH suffers or not won't have much effect on the
sale of prescription drugs like finasteride. That's because eventually they will have to turn to other treatment,
whether it be prescription drugs or surgery.
I don't think there is serious doubt about the efficacy of finasteride
for most patients. It sure as hell helped me dramatically after many
hopeful but ineffective years on SP. Ed

Ed,
> According to Doctor Julian Whitaker's newsletter (dated May 2006),
> "...three of the physicans who authored the study [mentioned below]
> received fees from drug companies who made BPH drugs that directly compete
> with saw palmentto."
> Note: BPH means benign prostatic hyperplasia
>
>This is the study that I was referring to:
>
> >WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- Millions of older American men
> >use the herbal supplement saw palmetto to treat an enlarged prostate, but
> >a new study concludes the product doesn't work.

Do you agree that the study related to saw palmetto has NO validity since
three of the doctors who authored the study received fees from drug
companies who made BPH drugs that directly compete with saw palmetto?

I would not say it has NO validity. If those doctors did indeed receive fees from the drug companies the study is certainly in question but may not totally invalidate what they did find. By the same reasoning one might say that since Julian Whitaker has financial interest in finding against the study, his column is a not a valid source of information. Is there another source that upholds his claims against the doctors in the study?


I doubt that saw palmetto is as effective as drugs like finasteride but
it's much less likely to have side effects. I know that some of the
prescription drugs do have serious side effects. Does finasteride have any
side effects?
Jason

All drugs have side effects on some or all individuals and usually the drug companies don't seem to know why. Sometimes they will specify that it can interact with ir similar to other drugs. I personally found that the side effects of Flomax and Uroxatral were not worth the gain. I tried SP for at least six months and concluded it was absolutely of no help for me. It appears to me that all prostate drugs include dizziness as one possible side effect. Any drug that is going to affect the muscles of the prostate functions is most likely going to affect muscles elsewhere in the body.

Possible side effects of finasteride:

asthenia, postural hypotension, peripheral edema, dizziness, decreased libido, rhinitis, abnormal ejaculation, impotence and abnormal sexual function


I forgot to mention that I even tried SP at three times the recommended amount. It did nothing for me. Perhaps I fit into the advanced stage group (65 gram prostate) like the study group. And since my URO did a presentation for Laserscope perhaps I should not have taken his advice on PVP!! However, he did recommend it only as the last resort after trying medications and TUMT.

At two weeks past PVP I am happy with the results. I note that there is still a tiny amount of blood therefore perhaps even better days to come. Flow is exceptionally good.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Saw Palmetto NOT helpful
    ... > received fees from drug companies who made BPH drugs that directly compete ... >>use the herbal supplement saw palmetto to treat an enlarged prostate, ... If saw palmetto is ineffective in relieving the symptoms of BPH, ... sale of prescription drugs like finasteride. ...
    (sci.med.prostate.bph)
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    (sci.med.prostate.bph)
  • Re: PVP on Aug 23 2005 in Boca Raton
    ... >> Lewis, thank you, and the others, for the advice. ... >>> taking any prostate related drugs ASAP. ... Any practical advice for me before I go in? ...
    (sci.med.prostate.bph)
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