Q and A with Daniel Shoskes M.D. Cleveland Ohio

What is Prosta-Q?

Prosta-Q is an herbal supplement containing bioflavonoids and minerals that is manufactured by Farr Laboratories. It is a patent pending proprietory formulation. Please refer questions regarding its manufacture and composition to Farr Laboratories, LLC.

What indications support the use of Prosta-Q?

I use Prosta-Q in men to support prostate health which may help address chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Synonyms for this condition include nonbacterial chronic prostatitis, prostatodynia, pelvic muscle myalgia and NIH category III prostatitis. I first perform localizing cultures of urine and expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) in all men prior to therapy. I treat and sterilize any infection that is found to localize to the prostate. In men with extensive inflammation of the EPS, I will often give a trial of antibiotics if the patient has not been so treated before. Men with no evidence of active infection and those who have failed treatment with antibiotics are ideal candidates for the benefits of Prosta-Q.

How do you use Prosta-Q?

I recommend 1 capsule taken three times a day with meals. If 3 times per day is successful, many patients can then manage longer term with 2 times or once per day. If the patient has no symptom improvement after 6-8 weeks, the product is unlikely to help them.

How long will it take for Prosta-Q to work?

Some users notice improvement after the first few doses. Others find that they must take it for at least 1 month to see any benefit.

Are there any contraindications to using Prosta-Q?

There is a theoretical risk that use of Prosta-Q will interfere with the action of quinolone antibiotics (eg Cipro, Floxin, Levaquin). Therefore, don't take these antibiotics with Prosta-Q.

What side effects have you seen?

Some users who take the product on an empty stomach report mild nausea. Some users have report slight tingling in the extremities shortly after their first dose.

Prosta-Q has helped me, but I still have urinary symptoms.

Some men find that Prosta-Q is more effective for their pain than for their urinary symptoms. I have found that combining Prosta-Q with an alpha blocker (eg Flomax, Uroxatral) is a helpful approach for these men.

Can I combine Prosta-Q with other supplements?

I don't recommend it. There is no way of knowing how ingredients in other herbal supplements or traditional treatments will interact with Prosta-Q. Even if the other product is considered "safe", it may interfere with the absorption of Prosta-Q, or block its actions in other ways. Furthermore, very high doses of antioxidants can lead to pro-oxidant effects. By combining high doses of multiple supplements, you may actually be producing the opposite and potentially harmful effect.

Prosta-Q has helped me feel better. Do I have to keep taking it?

I recommend staying on a maintenance dose of 1 capsule per day for an additional 2-3 months. Some users find they can stop the product without recurrence of symptoms. Some find they need to stay on the maintenance or even full dose. Some have utilized a "3 weeks on/1 week off" regimen with success.

What other brands of quercetin do you recommed?

Unfortunately, there are none other that I can recommed that have demonstrated the reliability and success that Prosta-Q has shown. Many brands do not have adequate batch to batch quality control such that one bottle works one month but another bottle doesn't work the next month. I have never seen this happen with Prosta-Q. Other brands commonly combine quercetin with vitamin C. The high doses of vitamin C delivered with the quercetin can severly acidify the urine, making symptoms worse in some men.

A new quercetin preparation called Q-Urol has the advantages of timed release quercetin combined with bee pollen. Bee pollen has shown beneficial effects for prostate health in several European studies.

Is there any medical literature to support what you say?