Use of finasteride plus doxazosin combination therapy for treatment of LUTS related to benign prostatic hyperplasia

• Published in: Aging health Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 437 - 443
• Main Authors: Dall Era, Joseph, Byrne, Lauren N, Barqawi, Al B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Future Medicine Ltd 01.08.2007
• Subjects: Aging; benign prostatic hyperplasia; doxazosin; Drug therapy; finasteride; lower urinary tract symptoms; Men; Prostate
• ISSN: 1745-509X; 1745-5103
• DOI: 10.2217/1745509X.3.4.437

The incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and resulting lower urinary tract symptoms increases with age. This constellation of symptoms, including urinary frequency, urinary urgency and nocturia, has been the source of much morbidity in the aging male, and the focus of many pharmaceutical developments. Understanding the progressive disease process and treatment guidelines for lower urinary tract symptoms resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia is crucial for urologists and primary-care physicians managing the aging population. Multiple large, randomized, controlled studies have been performed to evaluate the benefits of two of the currently used medications in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: finasteride and doxazosin. The advantages of each medication used alone or in combination have been well described in these trials. The scope of this review is to present a concise summary of these important trials with special emphasis on the long-term safety profile of these medications. Furthermore, strategies to predict disease progression are illustrated here, which can provide overall guidelines regarding the need for and choice of medication in the aging male population.