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 .
[Tamsulosin with or without Serenoa repens in benign prostatic hyperplasia: the OCOS trial].
OBJECTIVE In the treatment of the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) , a French guideline opposes the use of drugs in conjunction , in the absence of proven utility . The OCOS trial therefore compared one of the possible drug combinations ( tamsulosin and Serenoa repens ) with tamsulosin alone , to see if there was any difference in effectiveness and to evaluate the clinical tolerance of each in patients with symptoms of BPH . MATERIAL AND METHODS In this double-blind , r and omised trial , patients had to have an IPSS ( International Prostate Symptom Score ) > or = 13 and a Qmax between 7 and 15 mL/s .  Tamsulosin ( 0.4 mg ) was to be administered once a day for 52 weeks , with , twice daily , a placebo ( TAM ) or Serenoa repens 160 mg ( TAM + SR ) . RESULTS 352 patients were recruited by 47 centres ; 329 ( average age 65 ) were r and omised : 161 into the TAM group and 168 into the TAM + SR group . No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups , neither for the major end-point [ change in total IPSS between the baseline value and the final evaluation ( TAM : -5.2 ; TAM + SR : -6.0 ; p = 0.286 ) ] , nor for the secondary end-points [ changes in the voiding scores ( p = 0.239 ) and in filling scores ( p = 0.475 ) of the IPSS , Qmax ( p = 0.564 ) , percentage of respondents according to the IPSS ( p = 0.361 ) , improvement in quality of life ( IPSS-QoL : p = 0.091 ; UROLIFE BPH QoL : p = 0.442 ) , safety ] . CONCLUSION The addition of Serenoa repens to tamsulosin did not provide any significant benefit to the patients : the OCOS trial does not cast doubt on the guideline applicable to the treatment of BPH
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 .