Efficacy of terazosin and finasteride in symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: A comparative study

Medical treatment for symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) has become popular for the last few years. This study was designed to find out and compare the efficacy of terazosin, a alpha1 adrenoceptor blocker and finasteride, a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor in symptomatic BPH. A total of 60 patients (30 in terazosin group and 30 finasteride group) of symptomatic BPH were selected. Terazosin group received 1 mg daily at bedtime for 3 days, 2 mg at bedtime for 7 days, thereafter 5 mg at bedtime daily for 6 months. Finasteride group received 5 mg once daily. In terazosin treated patients, improvement after 3 months were as follows, IPSS 3.93 +/- .74 points reduction, Qmax 2.13 +/- .68 ml/s increase, post-voided residual urine volume (PVR) 20.67 +/- 10.56 ml reduction (significant, p<0.001) and prostate volume 0.57 +/- 1.54 ml reduction (not significant). Similar statistical differences were observed at 6 months follow up. In finasteride treated patients, improvements after 3 months were as follows, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) 1.38 +/- .63 points reduction, Qmax 0.55 +/- 0.78 ml/s increase, PVR 5.93 +/- 7.64 ml reduction (significant, p<0.001) and prostate volume 0.17 +/- 5.6 ml reduction (non-significant). At 6 month follow up statistical differences were significant in all parameters including prostate volume 4.57 +/- 5.30 ml reduction (p<0.001). In comparison, statistically significant superiority of terazosin over finasteride was found in improving IPSS, Qmax and PVR in both follow up visits. But terazosin had nonsignificant effect in reducing prostate volume; in contrast, finasteride had significant effect in second visit. It can be concluded from this study that terazosin 5mg once daily is effective in mild to moderate cases of symptomatic BPH. On the other hand, finasteride 5mg once daily may be useful in large prostate and to be given for at least 6 months.