title: Is the double dose alpha-blocker treatment superior than the single dose in the management of patients suffering from acute urinary retention caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and safety of single (tamsulosin) and double dose (tamsulosin + alfuzosin) alpha-blocker therapy for treating catheterized patients with acute urinary retention (AUR) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients with AUR due to BPH were catheterized and randomized into two groups: the single dose group (0.4 mg tamsulosin, 35 patients) and the double dose group (0.4 mg tamsulosin + 10 mg alfuzosin, 35 patients). The catheter was removed after 3 days, and the patients were put on trial without catheter (TWOC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy males (mean age, 71.2 years) were randomly assigned to receive double or single dose alpha-blocker (35 patients per group). The intent-to-treat population consisted of 70 males. Twenty-seven individuals in the double dose group and 19 in the single dose group did not require re-catheterization on the day of the TWOC (77% and 54%, respectively; P = .003). Success using free-flow variables was also higher in the males who received double dose alpha-blocker compared with single dose therapy (48% vs. 40%; P = .017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TWOC was more successful in males treated with double dose alpha-blockers, and the subsequent need for re-catheterization was also reduced. The side-effect profiles were similar in the single and double dose alpha-blocker groups and were consistent with the known pharmacology. These results state that double dose alpha-blocker treatment can be recommended for treating males after catheterization for AUR, which may reduce the need for re-catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. onerkara@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ankara University School of Medicine, 06100, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Merve
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazici
mesh_terms: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077409:Tamsulosin; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D011799:Quinazolines; D013449:Sulfonamides; C047638:alfuzosin; D000077409:Tamsulosin