Finasteride monotherapy maintains stable lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia following cessation of alpha blockers

Authors

  • J. Curtis Nickel Department of Urology, Queen’s University, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON
  • Jack Barkin Chief of Staff, Humber River Regional Hospital, Director: The Male Health Centre, North York, Director: Can-Am HIFU, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • Caroline Koch Medical Programs Manager, Merck Frosst Canada Ltd., Pointe-Claire-Dorval, QC
  • Charles Dupont Research Consultant, DataMed Inc., St-Jérôme, QC
  • Mostafa Elhilali Chairman of the Department of Surgery, and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Urology at McGill University and Surgeon-in-Chief, Royal Victoria and Montreal General Hospitals, Montréal, QC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.520

Abstract

Objective: Our Canadian multicentre open-label study sought to evaluate, in
patients with moderate/severe lower urinary symptoms (LUTS) secondary to
benign prostatic hyperplasia, the effect on symptoms of 9 months of monotherapy
with finasteride 5 mg following 9 months of combination treatment (finasteride
with an α-blocker) as quantified according to the International Prostate
Symptom Score (IPSS).

Methods: The primary outcome measure for efficacy was the maintenance of
IPSS response after cessation of the α-blocker. Subjects were treated with a
combination of finasteride and an α-blocker for 9 months and then with finasteride
alone for 3 or 9 months.

Results: Results showed that the IPSS scores after 3 months of monotherapy were
within the criteria for equivalence to those after 9 months of combination therapy.
Symptom control equivalence was also found after 9 months of monotherapy.
The IPSS response rate was also similar for combination and monotherapy.
The safety profile was similar and as expected with these medications.

Conclusion: Control of LUTS associated with BPH thus appears to be maintained
for at least 9 months with finasteride alone, following a 9-month course of combination
therapy with finasteride and an α-blocker, with similar safety profiles.

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Author Biographies

J. Curtis Nickel, Department of Urology, Queen’s University, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON

Jack Barkin, Chief of Staff, Humber River Regional Hospital, Director: The Male Health Centre, North York, Director: Can-Am HIFU, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Caroline Koch, Medical Programs Manager, Merck Frosst Canada Ltd., Pointe-Claire-Dorval, QC

Charles Dupont, Research Consultant, DataMed Inc., St-Jérôme, QC

Mostafa Elhilali, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Urology at McGill University and Surgeon-in-Chief, Royal Victoria and Montreal General Hospitals, Montréal, QC

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How to Cite

Nickel, J. C., Barkin, J., Koch, C., Dupont, C., & Elhilali, M. (2013). Finasteride monotherapy maintains stable lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia following cessation of alpha blockers. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 2(1), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.520

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2008): CUAJ February

Section

Original Research

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