The efficacy of every other day alpha-blocker therapy in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Purpose: Alpha-blockers have been demonstrated to be safe and effective in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. Patients often feel inconvenience because of the cost and long term nature of the therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of every other day alpha-blocker therapy in men with LUTS/BPH. Materials and methods: Men with LUTS, 50 years of age or older, were entered into this trial. 137 patients were treated with 10mg of alfuzosin once a day for the initial 3 months. After 3 months, 95 patients showed improvements in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of more than 30% as well as a Qmax of more than 30%. We randomly divided those 95 patients into three groups. Group I (32 patients) continued to take 10mg of alfuzosin every day, group II (32 patients) took 10mg of alfuzosin every other day and group III (31 patients) stopped the alfuzosin; 3 months later the IPSS, Qmax and side effects of three groups were measured. Results: At 3 months, the mean IPSS and Qmax of the 95 patients decreased and increased from 21.5 to 9.5 and from 8.0ml/sec to 15.8ml/sec, respectively. After 3 months, the mean IPSS of groups I and II were 10.2 and 11.3, respectively. The Qmax of groups I and II were 16.6 and 17.8 ml/sec, respectively. There were no significant differences between the IPSS and Qmax of groups I and II. Also, there was no significant side effect in any group. 58% of group III patients restart alfuzosin within 3 months. Conclusions: In cases that show a good response to short term therapy of alfuzosin, every other day alfuzosin therapy might be a good alternative choice for the convenience of patients with LUTS. Also, the role of intermittent alfuzosin therapy should be determined in a large cohort of men with LUTS/BPH.