Alpha blockers: Are all created equal?

Drug therapy with a blockers has become the standard treatment for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Medical treatment is often preferred by patients as opposed to minimally invasive therapy or transurethral resecti on of the prostate. Alpha blockers reduce urethral pressure by blocking the motor sympathetic adrenergic nerve supply to the prostate. Several alpha b lockers are available for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, includ ing alfuzosin, tamsulosin, terazosin, and doxazosin. Different meta-analyse s have shown these agents to be comparable in terms of efficacy in improvin g symptom score and increasing urinary flow rates. The clinical uroselectiv ity of these agents differs, however, and translates into differences in si de effects. Side effects that have been reported with some alpha blockers i nclude dizziness, headache, postural hypotension, and retrograde ejaculatio n. (C) 2000, Elsevier Science Inc.