The Effects of Dutasteride, Tamsulosin and Combination Therapy on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostatic Enlargement: 2-Year Results From the CombAT Study

Abstract

In men with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms and prostate enlargement (30 cc or greater) combination therapy provides a significantly greater degree of benefit than tamsulosin or dutasteride monotherapy.

Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…i5ARs may be prescribed to men with lower urinary tract symptoms and enlarged prostate (> 40 mL) or high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (> 1.6 ng/mL) and may prevent disease progression, reducing both the need for surgery and acute urinary retention. 4,[7][8][9][10] (A) 11 (B) One limitation to the use of monotherapy with i5ARs is the onset of action: improvement of BPH-LUTS takes between 4 and 6 months of therapy. Finasteride and dutasteride have similar efficacy in reducing prostate volume and improving urinary symptoms in BPH.…”

Current status of 5α-reductase inhibitors in the treatment of benign hyperplasia of prostate

“…Further, a combination of alpha-adrenergic blocking drug and a 5α-reductase inhibitor appears to be more promising. [28,29] …”

“…However, the long-term outcome of this study is still awaited. [29] Thus, clinical studies carried out on BPH patients suggest that medical therapy with 5α-reductase inhibitors is a promising approach for patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms of the disease and having enlarged prostate. Drugs like finasteride and dutasteride not only improve the symptom score and urinary functions but also halt the further progression of BPH and reduce the risk of acute urinary retention and need for surgery.…”

Recommended drug treatment of BPH in primary care

“…19 The use of two drugs rather than one, of course, increases the cost of treatment and also slightly increases the risk of side-effects.…”