Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this report, we assess the safety of terazosin in the treatment of patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. We analyzed seven prospectively designed placebo-controlled trials involving 3,080 patients, 1,689 of whom received the study drug in doses ranging from 1 mg to 20 mg daily for a total of 1,282 patient-years of exposure. The most common side effects seen in treated patients were dizziness (10.7%), asthenia (7.5%), and peripheral edema (4.0%). These side effects were generally reported as mild and improved after cessation of therapy. The incidence of withdrawal from the study due to side effects was 14.5% in the treatment arm versus 11.4% in the placebo control arm. Also noted was a statistically significant decreased risk of urinary tract infection and myocardial infarction in the terazosin-treated group. This updated report confirms that terazosin can be administered safely to a population of men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia with minimal clinically significant side effects.