The early effects of doxazosin on benign prostatic hyperplasia

It is known that selective alpha-1 adrenoceptor blockers diminish the symptoms and improve the uroflowmetric parameters in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by the effect on the dynamic component of BPH. The efficacy of doxazosin, a selective alpha-1 adrenoceptor blocker was evaluated in the treatment of BPH by assessing International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and uroflowmetric parameters. While 24 patients were given doxazosin in a daily dose of 4 mg, 19 patients were given placebo. Assessments of IPSS and uroflowmetric parameters were obtained three weekly periods. After three weeks, the decrease in IPSS was more prominent in doxazosin group when compared to placebo group (47% versus 12% respectively, p < 0.05) but improvement in the uroflowmetric parameters was not different statistically in the two groups (in Qmax 24% versus 16%, for doxazosin and placebo groups respectively, p > 0.05). After six weeks the improvement in IPSS continued and improvement in uroflowmetric parameters in doxazosin group was more evident when compared to placebo group (in Qmax 34% versus 19% respectively, p < 0.05). Objective results of doxazosin treatment in BPH can be observed after sixth week of the treatment although symptomatic effects can start at third week.