Alpha blockers should no longer be used for ureteric stones.
Alpha-blockers have been used as medical expulsive therapy for ureteric stones for a number of years. Conventional wisdom supporting their use has recently been challenged by the publication of a large, multi-centre, randomised double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, SUSPEND, which showed that they were ineffective. This paper looks at the evidence behind the use of alpha-blockers, and discusses why we should believe the evidence we have from SUSPEND, rather than other published studies, and therefore stop using them as medical expulsive therapy.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address: ojwiseman@gmail.com.
Oliver J
OJ
Wiseman
Academic Urology Unit, University of Aberdeen, UK.
Sam
S
McClinton
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D013449:Sulfonamides
Alpha-blocker; Colic; Tamsulosin; Ureteric stone; Urolithiasis