Tolterodine to Relieve Urinary Symptoms Following Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of tolterodine on early storage symptoms following transurethral resection of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy patients over 55 years of age who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate owing to benign prostatic hyperplasia were randomly assigned to receive either 2 mg of tolterodine twice daily (treatment group) or matched placebo during a 1-month study period. Before and 1 month after the procedure, they were asked to complete the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire and quality of life subscale to assess their symptoms. Also, analgesic use and adverse drug events were determined at follow-up. RESULTS Of 70 allocated patients, 64 patients (91.4%), including 33 in the treatment group and 31 in the placebo group, completed the study. The mean age of the patients was 67 years. None of the patients' basic clinical characteristics were significantly different. At the end of the follow-up period, the total IPSS and quality of life score had significantly improved in the patients receiving tolterodine compared with those receiving placebo (p=0.001 and p=0.036, respectively). The treatment group compared with placebo demonstrated significant improvements in frequency and urgency but not in nocturia. The amount of consumed painkiller was also significantly lower in the tolterodine group than in the placebo group (p=0.0001). The rate of side effects was not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Administering 2 mg of tolterodine twice daily is an effective and well-tolerated regimen to relieve early storage symptoms, quality of life, and the amount of analgesic consumption following transurethral resection of the prostate.