COMPARISON OF THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TAMSULOSIN (0.4 mg) V/S (and) FINASTERIDE FOR SHORT-TERM TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMATIC BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Objective: To evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of tamsulosin 0.4mg once daily verses finasteride in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Patients and method: In this randomised study, 69 patients were enrolled. Of these 51 were receive tamsulosin 0.4 mg and 18 patients were receive finasteride 5 mg once daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measures (mean changes in total and /or individual I-PSS score, prostate volume and life style questionnaire) were compared from baseline to 12 weeks of study. Result: During study both drugs reduced the total and individual I-PSS scores, while tamsulosin significantly improved lower urinary tract symptoms compared to finasteride (p ≤0.0002) within 3-monts of therapy, (mean change in I-PSS scores from baseline to end of the study was 16.7 VS 9.0 in tamsulosin VS finasteride respectively). Improvement in symptoms score was 82.67% in tamsulosin compare to 45.50% in finasteride. The life style questionnaire was significantly improved in tamsulosin group. The prostate volume is slightly increased (0.75ml) in tamsulosin and 1.44 ml decreases in finasteride group during study. Adverse events were similar in both groups; most common observed adverse event was dizziness (4.34%) in tamsulosin similar to finasteride ((7.14 %). While sexual disorder (2.1%) delayed ejaculation was prominent in tamsulosin group. Conclusion: Once daily dosing of tamsulosin at bed time at a fix dose level (0.4mg) offers an efficient improvement in total and individual I-PSS score compare to finasteride. The prostate volume was increase in tamsulosin while it was decreased in finasteride group; adverse events other than ejaculatory disorder were similar similar in both groups. Tamsulosin is safe, well tolerated and significantly more effective than finasteride for short term treatment of symptomatic BPH.