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The effect of prazosin on patients with symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy
I D Steven1, G A Coffey, N M Graham
1Research and Health Promotion Unit, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of prazosin on the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy for patients of general practitioners.
Setting And Patients:
Eighty-two general practitioner patients from 317 who were identified as being eligible for inclusion in the trial. They were randomly allocated to receive either prazosin or placebo for the first 3 month arm then crossed-over for the second 3 months.
Results:
Seventy-six patients completed the trial. An analogue scale of patient rating of symptoms showed a statistically significant decrease in symptoms for patients taking prazosin when compared with patients taking placebo, regardless of the order in which they had been administered. A total symptom score and an obstructive symptom score for benign prostatic hypertrophy showed a statistically significant difference between the two treatments at 4 weeks. A difference was still apparent at 8 and 12 weeks but it was not statistically significant. No difference was detected for irritative symptoms.
Conclusion:
Prazosin may have a limited place in the management of benign prostatic hypertrophy.