New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Erectile Dysfunction Drug Shows Promise For Relief Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated With Benign Prostate Disease

Date:
August 19, 2008
Source:
Elsevier Health Sciences
Summary:
Men with signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia can be helped with a daily dose of erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil (marketed as Cialis) to relieve associated lower urinary tract symptoms, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Northwestern University and Lilly Research Laboratories report on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of over 1,000 men in 10 countries.
Share:
FULL STORY

Men with signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can be helped with a daily dose of erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil (Cialis®) to relieve associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), according to a new study published in the October 2008 issue of The Journal of Urology. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Northwestern University and Lilly Research Laboratories report on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of over 1000 men in ten countries.

Claus G. Roehrborn, MD, Professor of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, states, "Since reports of erectile dysfunction (ED) incidence, pathophysiology and treatment have shown a possible link between BPH LUTS and ED. PDE5 inhibitors like tadalafil (Cialis®) have received increased attention for treating BPH LUTS, although they are currently only approved for ED. The half-life of tadalafil is 17.5 hours, making it suitable as once daily therapy. Although the precise mechanism of action by which PDE5 inhibitors may alleviate LUTS is not completely understood, several putative mechanisms are currently under investigation."

Men with signs of BPH may experience LUTS, such as urinary frequency, urgency, intermittence, nocturia, straining, incomplete emptying or a weak urinary stream. LUTS increase with age with an overall prevalence of greater than 50% in men 50 years or older. Drugs currently used to treat these symptoms can produce unwanted side effects, including dizziness, low blood pressure and sexual dysfunction.

Participants in the tadalafil study were required to have at least a 6-month history of LUTS secondary to BPH. Subjects with a high PSA (more than 10 ng/ml) were excluded, as were subjects with other complicating conditions or conflicting drug treatments. Anyone who had undergone treatment for erectile dysfunction or other BPH treatments underwent a 4-week treatment-free screening period. All participants then received placebo for 4 weeks prior to randomization. The 1056 subjects were then divided randomly into 5 groups that received a placebo, or doses of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 or 20.0 mg/day of tadalafil.

Using the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), a validated seven-item questionnaire about LUTS occurring within the last month, the researchers found that all doses of tadalafil were superior to placebo for relieving LUTS, with statistically significant effects at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The treatments decreased I-PSS scores from 3.9 to 5.2 points in the different dosage groups, a clinically meaningful improvement according to the guidelines of the American Urological Association. Of the doses studied, 5 mg per day improved the I-PSS by 4.9 points and provided the best risk-benefit profile.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Elsevier Health Sciences. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Claus G. Roehrborn, Kevin T. McVary, Albert Elion-Mboussa and Lars Viktrup. Tadalafil Administered Once Daily for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Secondary to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Dose Finding Study. Journal of Urology, Volume 180, Issue 4 (October 2008)

Cite This Page:

Elsevier Health Sciences. "Erectile Dysfunction Drug Shows Promise For Relief Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated With Benign Prostate Disease." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 August 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080819082558.htm>.
Elsevier Health Sciences. (2008, August 19). Erectile Dysfunction Drug Shows Promise For Relief Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated With Benign Prostate Disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080819082558.htm
Elsevier Health Sciences. "Erectile Dysfunction Drug Shows Promise For Relief Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated With Benign Prostate Disease." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080819082558.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES