This combination seems to be more efficacious in terms of several outcome variables in patients whose prostate volume is between 30 ml and 40 ml when treatment is maintained for > 1 yr ; when given for < 1 yr , α1-blockers alone are just as effective .
The combination of α1-blocker/5-ARI shows a slightly increased rate of adverse events .
It remains unknown whether its safety and superiority over either drug as monotherapy are sustained after > 6 yr .
The α1-blocker/muscarinic receptor antagonist ( antimuscarinic ) combination was most frequently assessed as an add-on therapy to already existing α1-blocker therapy .
Inconsistent data derive from heterogeneous study population s and different study design s. Currently , the α1-blocker/antimuscarinic combination appears to be a second-line add-on for patients with insufficient symptom relief after monotherapy .
The combination seems to be safe in men with postvoid residual < 200 ml .
The α1-blocker/phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor combination is a new treatment option with only preliminary reports .
CONCLUSIONS An α1-blocker/5-ARI combination is beneficial for patients whose prostate volume is between 30 ml and 40 ml when medical treatment is intended for > 1 yr .
Based on short-term follow-up studies , add-on of antimuscarinics to α1-blockers is an option when postvoid residual is < 200 ml
BACKGROUND Several drugs are approved for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) in men , but these are mostly used by clinicians as monotherapies .
The combination of different compounds , each of which targets a different aspect of LUTS , seems appealing .
However , only few clinical trials have evaluated the effects of combination therapies .
OBJECTIVE This systematic review analyzes the efficacy and adverse events of combination therapies for male LUTS .
Sildenafil citrate and tamsulosin combination is not superior to monotherapy in treating lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction
Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of sildenafil citrate only , 25 mg . Four times/week , tamsulosin only , 0.4 mg once daily , and the combination of both on lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) suggestive of benign prostate hyperplasia ( BPH ) and erectile dysfunction . Methods A total of 60 men with BPH-related LUTS were r and omized to receive sildenafil citrate only ( n = 20 ) , tamsulosin only ( n = 20 ) , and the combination of both ( n = 20 ) for 8 weeks . Changes from baseline in International Prostate Symptom Score ( IPSS ) , maximum urinary flow rate ( Qmax ) , post voiding residual urine volume ( PRV ) , Sexual Health Inventory for Male ( SHIM ) score , 3rd and 4th questions of International Index of Erectile Function ( IIEF ) were assessed at the end of the treatment . Results The mean age was 58 years .  IPSS , Qmax , PRV , SHIM scores , and 3rd and 4th questions in IIEF significantly improved in each group . Improvement of IPSS was more remarkable in combination ( 40.1 % ) and tamsulosin only ( 36.2 % ) groups in comparison with sildenafil citrate only group ( 28.2 % ; p < 0.001 ) . Improvement of Qmax and PRV were greater in tamsulosin only and combination than sildenafil citrate only group . SHIM scores significantly improved in sildenafil citrate only ( 65 % ) and combination ( 67.4 % ) than tamsulosin only ( 12.4 % ; p < 0.001 ) . Increases in the 3rd and 4th questions of IIEF were greater in sildenafil only and combination than tamsulosin only ( p < 0.001 ) . Conclusions Treatment with the combination of tamsulosin only and sildenafil citrate only was not superior to tamsulosin only to enhance voiding symptoms . Also , sexual function improvement was similar for both the combination and sildenafil citrate only treatments
This combination seems to be more efficacious in terms of several outcome variables in patients whose prostate volume is between 30 ml and 40 ml when treatment is maintained for > 1 yr ; when given for < 1 yr , α1-blockers alone are just as effective .
The combination of α1-blocker/5-ARI shows a slightly increased rate of adverse events .
It remains unknown whether its safety and superiority over either drug as monotherapy are sustained after > 6 yr .
The α1-blocker/muscarinic receptor antagonist ( antimuscarinic ) combination was most frequently assessed as an add-on therapy to already existing α1-blocker therapy .
Inconsistent data derive from heterogeneous study population s and different study design s. Currently , the α1-blocker/antimuscarinic combination appears to be a second-line add-on for patients with insufficient symptom relief after monotherapy .
The combination seems to be safe in men with postvoid residual < 200 ml .
The α1-blocker/phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor combination is a new treatment option with only preliminary reports .
CONCLUSIONS An α1-blocker/5-ARI combination is beneficial for patients whose prostate volume is between 30 ml and 40 ml when medical treatment is intended for > 1 yr .
Based on short-term follow-up studies , add-on of antimuscarinics to α1-blockers is an option when postvoid residual is < 200 ml
BACKGROUND Several drugs are approved for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) in men , but these are mostly used by clinicians as monotherapies .
The combination of different compounds , each of which targets a different aspect of LUTS , seems appealing .
However , only few clinical trials have evaluated the effects of combination therapies .
OBJECTIVE This systematic review analyzes the efficacy and adverse events of combination therapies for male LUTS .