Evaluation of intermittent tamsulosin in treating symptomatic patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate and assess the effect of intermittent tamsulosin treatment as a trial to increase the drug safety (in terms of reducing the drug side effects, particularly retrograde ejaculation) while maintaining the effect in reducing the symptoms and assess its impact on the patients’ quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who enrolled in this study were suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and were using 0.4 mg tamsulosin daily to relieve their symptoms but complained of ejaculatory problems. A baseline assessment involves medical history and evaluation of ejaculatory function abdominopelvic ultrasound, postvoid residual volume (PVR) estimation, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life assessed using global satisfaction, vital signs, physical examination including digital rectal examination, and renal function. During the study, patients consented to take 0.4 mg tamsulosin intermittently every other day and to proceed with their sexual activities on the days they did not take the drug in. Baseline assessment was repeated and recorded after 3 months from starting the treatment. The adverse effects and compliance were analyzed in all patients. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients had a mean baseline IPSS of 6.6 ± 1 and baseline PVR of 87.6 ± 15.1 ml. At the 3(rd) month, the mean PVR was 100.4 ± 15.1 ml and the mean IPSS was 7.3 ± 1.1. Moreover, 20 out of the total number of 25 patients (80%) reported improvement in their ejaculation. All our 20 patients who showed improvement in their ejaculatory function are either satisfied or very satisfied (4 or 5), in regard to the global satisfaction rate. CONCLUSION: Intermittent tamsulosin therapy (0.4 mg/every other day) is well-tolerated and shows a potential advantage in recovery in patients who suffer from LUTS/BPH and complaining from abnormal ejaculation, especially absent ejaculate. Although there was a significant change in PVR and IPSS after using intermittent tamsulosin therapy. Most patients show a higher overall satisfaction with the treatment compared to the standard dose (0.4 mg/daily). A study on a larger scale is still needed to confirm our results.