Adverse events related to alpha-blockers: analysis of real-life data from Eudra-Vigilance

Patients on alpha-blockers (ABs) treatment may have an increased risk of adverse events (AEs). Aim of our study was to compare real-life data on neuro-vascular and sexual AEs associated with ABs based on Eudra-Vigilance reported AEs.

Eudra-Vigilance (EV) database is the system for managing and analyzing information on suspected adverse reactions to medicines which have been authorized or being studied in clinical trials in the European Economic Area (EEA). We recorded the number of sexual and neuro-vascular AEs for tamsulosin, alfuzosin, silodosin, prazosin and doxazosin per category and severity until July 30^th, 2022. Pooled Relative Risk (PRR) was used to compare data between drugs.

Overall the number of AEs were 2842 for Alfuzosin, 11,086 for tamsulosin, 792 for terazosin, 572 for prazosin and 4641 for doxazosin. Different percentages of AEs were obtained for each drug and in different age groups according to EV sub-groups (≤65, 65-85, ≥85). On PRR analysis, the risk of ejaculatory disorders for Silodosin (11%) is 18.5 times higher (PRR 18.5 95%CI; 10.7-31.8; P<0.05) when compared to alfuzosin and the risk of orthostatic hypotension is 2 times lower (PRR=1,84 95%CI 1.32-2.57; P<0.05).

Real life data is consistent with registry studies regarding side effects related to alpha-blockers. Alfuzosin is safer in terms of ejaculatory disorders while silodosin and tamsulosin in terms of orthostatic hypotension. Clinicians should consider these data when prescribing ABs especially in younger and older patients.