Comparison of doxazosin with or without tolterodine in men with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction and an overactive bladder

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy of combined treatment with doxazosin and tolterodine, as although alpha-blockers are commonly used and generally effective in men with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), a subset of men with BOO and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms often complain of persistent symptoms.

Patients and methods: In a prospective study of 144 consecutive men with BOO at one tertiary urology centre, all had a baseline pressure-flow urodynamic study and were then subdivided into those with BOO or BOO + OAB, based on absence or presence of involuntary detrusor contractions. The Abrams-Griffiths nomogram was used to determine obstructive BOO. After the initial evaluation, all patients were treated with doxazosin 4 mg/day for 3 months. In patients with no symptomatic improvement, tolterodine 2 mg twice daily was added for an additional 3 months.

Results: Of the 144 patients, 76 (53%) were diagnosed as having BOO and 68 (47%) BOO + OAB. The patients with BOO + OAB were older (P < 0.05) and had a higher International Prostate Symptom Score. After 3 months of treatment with doxazosin, 60 (79%) with BOO and 24 (35%) BOO + OAB reported a symptomatic improvement. In those patients with no improvement, six of 16 with BOO and 32 of 44 (73%) with BOO + OAB improved after adding tolterodine. Acute urinary retention developed in only two of 60 men (3.3%) treated with the combined therapy.

Conclusion: About half of men with symptomatic BOO had an OAB; while about three-quarters of men with symptomatic BOO and no OAB improved with doxazosin, only a third with BOO + OAB were helped with doxazosin alone. Combining tolterodine with doxazosin was effective in three-quarters of men with BOO + OAB. Overall, most men with BOO with or with no OAB were helped with doxazosin alone or with the addition of tolterodine.