Although this study did not consider placebo effect and has high IPSS baseline scores , this study clarifies that low-dose tamsulosin has generally positive effect and safety in treatment of LUTS and could be a suitable option as an initial treatment , especially for patients with low body mass index , as is typical of Asian people
PURPOSE In Asian countries , low-dose tamsulosin ( 0.2 mg ) is used widely but this dose has been less popular than 0.4 mg tamsulosin or other types of alpha blockers .
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose tamsulosin by systematic review and meta- analysis .
The effect of alpha-blocker and 5alpha-reductase inhibitor intake on sexual health in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.
OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of tamsulosin on the Sexual Health Inventory for Men ( SHIM ) score in men diagnosed with lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) . PATIENTS AND METHODS Analysis from the national data base of a programme of the Prostate Cancer Educational Council identified 7974 men who completed the American Urologic Association Symptom Score ( AUA-SS ) and SHIM question naires . The patients were divided into three groups ; group 1 , men taking tamsulosin ;  group 2 , men on other prescription medications for treating BPH symptoms ;  and group 3 , men not currently taking any BPH medications .  Linear regression was used to assess the association of tamsulosin and other alpha-blocker prescriptions for treating BPH symptoms with the decline in SHIM score . The interaction terms between AUA and the intake of tamsulosin was also adjusted for in the final analysis . RESULTS The median age of the men was 60 years . In groups 1 , 2 and 3 , ( 234 , 291 and 7449 men , respectively ) the mean ( sd ) AUA-SS was 13.0 ( 7.2 ) , 12.1 ( 7.2 ) and 6.9 ( 5.8 ) , and the mean SHIM scores 11.7 ( 6.8 ) , 12.7 ( 6.5 ) and 15.9 ( 6.0 ) , respectively . Adjusting for the AUA-SS , men in group 1 on tamsulosin had a significantly higher SHIM score with increasing AUA-SS score than men on other medications ( P < 0.01 ) , off setting the negative correlation between the AUA-SS and SHIM ( P < 0.01 ) . Moreover , men in group 1 were more likely to have a higher AUA-SS and lower SHIM score than men in the other two groups , suggesting more severe symptoms in these men . CONCLUSIONS Men taking tamsulosin to treat LUTS appear to be at an advantage over men taking other alpha-blockers when the effect of LUTS on sexual health is considered . Furthermore , this effect was more profound in patients with more severe LUTS than those with mild and moderate symptoms . Future prospect i ve trials are warranted to confirm this effect
Although this study did not consider placebo effect and has high IPSS baseline scores , this study clarifies that low-dose tamsulosin has generally positive effect and safety in treatment of LUTS and could be a suitable option as an initial treatment , especially for patients with low body mass index , as is typical of Asian people
PURPOSE In Asian countries , low-dose tamsulosin ( 0.2 mg ) is used widely but this dose has been less popular than 0.4 mg tamsulosin or other types of alpha blockers .
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose tamsulosin by systematic review and meta- analysis .