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Evidence summaries

Terazosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Terazosin has similar efficacy to other alpha-blockers in prostatic hyperplasia. Adverse effects are generally mild but more frequent than with other alpha-blockers. Level of evidence: "A"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 [withdrawn from publication] included 17 studies with a total of 5151 subjects. Terazosin improved symptom scores and flow rates more than placebo or finasteride and similarly to other alpha antagonists. The pooled mean percentage improvements for the Boyarsky symptom score was 37% for terazosin versus 15% for placebo (n=4 studies). The mean percentage improvement for the American Urological Association symptom score (AUA) was 38% compared to 17% and 20% for placebo and finasteride, respectively (n = 2 studies). The pooled mean improvement in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (40%) was similar to tamsulosin (43%). Peak urine flow rates improved greater with terazosin (22%), than placebo (11%) and finasteride (15%) but did not differ significantly from the other alpha-blockers. The percentage of men discontinuing terazosin was comparable to men receiving placebo and finasteride but was greater then with other alpha-antagonists. Adverse effects were greater than placebo and included dizziness, asthenia, headache and postural hypotension.

References

  • Wilt TJ, Howe RW, Rutks I et al. WITHDRAWN: Terazosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011;(9):CD003851. [PubMed].

Primary/Secondary Keywords