Korean J Urol.  2009 Feb;50(2):130-134.

Effect of Tamsulosin HCl (0.2 mg) on Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms with Maximal Urinary Flow Rate Less Than 12 ml/sec

• Kim SO
• Kim JS
• Chung HS
• Kwon DD
• Park K
• Ryu SB

Abstract

PURPOSE
Alpha adrenergic components do not seem prevalent in the female bladder neck. Nevertheless, some studies using alpha-blockers in women suffering from obstructed urine flow have been reported. We assessed the effectiveness of administering an alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, tamsulosin, in patients with a maximal flow rate less than 12 ml/sec.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From January 2007 to December 2007, 150 patients with a maximal flow rate less than 12 ml/sec were selected for this study. Patients were treated with tamsulosin at a dose of 0.2 mg per day. The effectiveness of tamsulosin was assessed by analyzing the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and other parameters, including the maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax) and the amount of postvoid residual urine. The data for these parameters were acquired at baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment.
RESULTS
Of the 150 patients, 113 patients (75.3%) completed the study. Except for the storage symptom score, all clinical parameters, including total IPSS, voiding symptom score, Qmax, and the amount of residual urine, showed significant improvement after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment (p<0.05). The incidence of adverse events was only 4.4%, including dizziness in 3 patients, stress incontinence in 1 patient, and lethargy in 1 patient.
CONCLUSIONS
The alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist tamsulosin significantly improved subjective symptoms and uroflowmetric parameters in female patients with a low maximal flow rate of less than 12 ml/sec. The use of tamsulosin may be an initial treatment option in females with a low maximal urinary flow rate.

Keyword

Female; Adrenergic alpha-blocker; Urinary bladder neck obstruction

MeSH Terms

Dizziness
Female
Humans
Incidence
Lethargy
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Neck
Prostate
Stress, Psychological
Sulfonamides
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction
Sulfonamides

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