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 .
Treatment satisfaction with low-dose tamsulosin for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: results from a multicentre cross-sectional survey.
AIMS To evaluate the efficacy and treatment satisfaction with low-dose ( 0.2 mg ) tamsulosin in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) , and to investigate individual lower urinary tract symptoms according to treatment satisfaction . METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in a total sample of 2574 patients from multiple centres .  International Prostate Symptom Score ( IPSS ) , prostate volume , uroflowmetry and combined medications were review ed . Detailed question naires were used to assess treatment satisfaction and IPSS 8 weeks after treatment with low-dose tamsulosin . RESULTS After 8 weeks of treatment with low-dose tamsulosin , IPSS improved significantly . Among the 2574 patients , 1,630 ( 63.42 % ) were satisfied and 940 patients ( 36.50 % ) were dissatisfied with low-dose tamsulosin . The reasons for dissatisfaction included efficacy problems ( 84.66 % ) and side effects ( 3.72 % ) . Treatment satisfaction was affected by symptom duration , baseline IPSS , and prostate size ( p = 0.0441 , < 0.001 , < 0.009 , respectively ) . IPSS voiding ( IPSS-V ) and IPSS storage ( IPSS-S ) after treatment differed significantly depending on the degree of satisfaction ( p < 0.001 ) . IPSS-V after treatment did not improve in patients who were ' not satisfied ' or ' totally not satisfied ' ( p = 0.170 , 0.240 , respectively ) . All the individual IPSS items except urgency ( p = 0.1436 ) varied significantly with the degree of satisfaction ( p < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Treating symptomatic BPH with low-dose tamsulosin improved IPSS , but more than one-third of patients were dissatisfied with the treatment . The main reason for dissatisfaction was efficacy problems , and the degree of satisfaction was related to symptom duration , baseline IPSS , and prostate size , and also to IPSS-V. In patients with severe LUTS , the tamsulosin dose should be increased earlier
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 .