Silodosin: A promising alpha-blocker for treating BPH

This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of silodosin (Rapaflo) in treating urinary symptoms among men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Researchers concluded that silodosin is well-tolerated and significantly improves a range of urinary symptoms in most men.

Drugs that are commonly prescribed for treating urinary symptoms in BPH include alpha-blockers such as silodosin. Silodosin helps relax the muscles in the prostate and in the opening to the bladder. This is believed to help increase the flow of urine and, therefore, provide relief from BPH-related urinary symptoms. However, many alpha-blockers are associated with side effects, such as high-blood pressure or ejaculatory dysfunction. The effectiveness of silodosin relative to the rate of side effects is still under examination.

This trial evaluated silodosin in treating urinary symptoms as well as any associated side effects. A total of 1,036 men with moderate to severe BPH-related urinary symptoms were included in this study. All men received treatment with silodosin over the course of 6 months.

Urinary symptoms significantly improved following treatment with silodosin. 77.1% of men reported an improvement of at least 25% in urinary symptoms. This included improvements in urinary frequency, urine flow rate, and complete bladder emptying. Frequently waking up in the night to urinate (also called nocturia) was also significantly reduced (from 85.7% to 52.4% of men). Overall, 74.2% of men were satisfied with the treatment. Most men reported marked improvements in quality of life.

Side effects associated with silodosin treatment were reported in 26.8% of men. Ejaculatory dysfunction (reported in 17.9% of men), diarrhea (reported in 1.3% of men), and headache (reported in 1% of men) were among the most common. Silodosin had no effect on blood pressure or heart rate. 

This trial concluded that silodosin is a safe and effective treatment for BPH-related urinary symptoms.