In a nutshell
This study aimed to investigate the effects of mirabegron (Myrbetriq) as an add-on therapy to tamsulosin (Flomax) in men with overactive bladder (OAB). This study suggested that mirabegron was an effective add-on to tamsulosin in these patients.
Some background
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS ) represent a collection of symptoms which may include OAB, incontinence (urine leakage), or discomfort passing urine. OAB is characterized by symptoms such as experiencing incontinence, having a strong urge to urinate, and being woken up at night due to the need to urinate (nocturia).
Tamsulosin is a commonly used treatment for OAB. It works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and the bladder. However, some patients often fail to respond to tamsulosin treatment. Mirabegron is an alternative treatment to tamsulosin for OAB symptoms. It acts to relax the muscles around the bladder to improve urine storage. The effectiveness of mirabegron as an add-on to tamsulosin for men with OAB is still not clear.
Methods & findings
565 Korean and Japanese men participated in this study. For 4 weeks, all participants received a placebo and tamsulosin. Participants were then divided into 2 groups. Group 1 continued to receive tamsulosin and a placebo and group 2 received tamsulosin and mirabegron (50 mg) for 12 weeks. Response to treatment was measured by patient diaries and patient-reported outcomes (PRO).
30.7% of group 2 experienced normal urination frequencies compared to 18.6% in group 1. Normalization in incontinence and urgency was similar between groups 1 and 2. More patients in group 2 experienced a normalization of OAB symptoms compared to group 1.
The bottom line
This study suggested that mirabegron was effective as an add-on to tamsulosin treatment for normalizing OAB symptoms.
The fine print
This study included only participants from Korea and Japan. Therefore, the results may not be applicable to patient populations elsewhere.
What’s next?
If you have questions about the treatment of OAB, please consult your doctor.
Published By :
Advances in therapy
Date :
Nov 27, 2020
