Efficacy of doxazosin in normotensive and hypertensive patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and hypertension are both common conditions in older men. It is estimated that 20 to 41% of middle-aged to elderly men may have both. Alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists, such doxazosin, produce significant improvements in urine flow rate and symptoms in patients with BPH. The effect of doxazosin on urine flow rate and symptoms in hypertensive men with BPH is similar to that seen in normotensive men. By contrast, doxazosin produces a significant fall in blood pressure in hypertensive men, but has minimal effect in normotensives. Doxazosin is well tolerated, irrespective of blood pressure status. Thus, it can be concluded doxazosin is an effective and well tolerated treatment for BPH which appears to have additional benefits in the management of patients with concomitant hypertension.