Hi, SCR.

Saw Palmetto is not useful according to a recent study. Previous
studies have shown some usefulness, but the placebo in those earlier
studies also was pretty effective (not as good as the SP, but
still...). So the thinking is that some participants figured out that
they were in the placebo group in the earlier studies (because the
placebos didn't look like the real thing), and placebos don't work
unless you think they are the real thing.

That's kind of gnarly, isn't it? It may turn out that real SP is a
placebo too. If you believe in it, it will help. At least you think
so.

To find the info on the recent study, go to
http://tinyurl.com/ndad5

Flomax works but its action is subtle and takes time. It may get you
by for some time, or for a long time. I don't have experience with
Hytrin.

Proscar works to shrink the prostate and seems to be pretty effective
for that, but it takes 6 months to a year to work. Relief of symptoms
is often not great with proscar even though it does shrink the
prostate.

Some meds work better on some folks than on others. Some don't work at
all, and some give very bad side effects on some people. Everyone's
situation is different. So when you ask "what's better", that depends.
Work with your doc and uro to find what might be the solution for you.

Ed