DOXAZOSIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA IN PATIENTS WITH MILD-TO-MODERATE ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION - A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED DOSE-RESPONSE MULTICENTER STUDY

A total of 248 hypertensive patients 45 years old or older with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was included in this 16- week, multicente r, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group dose-response stud y. Doxazosin, a selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, produced a significant increase in maximum urinary flow rate (2.3 to 3.6 ml. per second) at doses of 4 mg., 8 mg. and 12 mg., and in average flow rate (8 mg. and 12 mg.) compared with placebo. The increase in maximum flow rate was significant with doxazosin versus placebo within 1 week of i nitiating double-blind therapy. Doxazosin compared to placebo signific antly decreased patient-assessed total, obstructive and irritative BPH symptoms. Blood pressure was significantly lower with all doxazosin d oses compared with placebo. Adverse events, primarily mild to moderate in severity, were reported in 48% of patients on doxazosin and 35% on placebo. Our results strongly support the use of doxazosin as a nonop erative therapeutic alternative in the management of uncomplicated BPH . Doxazosin would also be particularly useful in the management of pat ients who have BPH and hypertension.