Tamsulosin Versus Finasteride: Effect on Bother and Urinary Flow
January 2002
in “
European Urology Supplements
”
TLDR Tamsulosin works faster, but both drugs have similar effects after 6 months.
This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of tamsulosin and finasteride in treating lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The study involved 403 patients and lasted for 26 weeks. Tamsulosin was found to induce a greater reduction in total Symptom Problem Index (SPI) compared to finasteride. At 1 and 6 weeks, tamsulosin improved Qmax maximally and significantly more than finasteride, but at 6 months, the effects of both treatments were comparable. Both treatments were well tolerated, and the occurrence of acute urinary retention on finasteride or tamsulosin was also comparable.