Clinical ease of using doxazosin in BPH patients with and without hypertension

Clinical studies have demonstrated that doxazosin therapy reduced blood pressure (BP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who were hypertensive at baseline but not in patients who were physiologically or pharmacologically normotensive at baseline. In patients with BPH and uncontrolled hypertension, despite treatment with other antihypertensive drugs, the addition of doxazosin resulted in improved control with significant reductions in BP. The new formulation, doxazosin gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS), is initiated at a therapeutic dose, simplifying dose titration. Based on its efficacy and pharmacokinetic and tolerability profiles, doxazosin GITS is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for normotensive and hypertensive patients with BPH.

Efficacy of extended-release doxazosin and doxazosin standard in patients with concomitant benign prostatic hyperplasia and sexual dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

To report a comprehensive retrospective analysis of the favourable effects of doxazosin extended-release (XL) and doxazosin standard on the sexual health of patients with comorbid benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED), augmenting a previous study of 680 patients with symptomatic BPH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Men with BPH and aged 50-80 years participated in a randomized, double- blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, multicentre trial, completing a 2-week, single-blind, placebo run-in period before receiving doxazosin XL 4 or 8 mg once daily or doxazosin standard 1-8 mg once daily for 13 weeks. Baseline sexual function and changes from baseline after treatment with doxazosin were evaluated from responses of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire (with dysfunction defined as a score of < or = 3 for any question) and the five domains for erectile function (intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall sexual satisfaction).

RESULTS

Of 680 patients randomized into the trial, 237 (35%) had ED at baseline; in these patients there were statistically and clinically significant improvements in each of the five IIEF domains with XL and standard doxazosin (P < or = 0.0019), with the range of improvement being from 13% to 41%. There were no significant differences between treatment groups. Doxazosin XL consistently improved sexual function, as assessed by the individual questions of the IIEF questionnaire. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for any sexual function question analysed.

CONCLUSION

Doxazosin XL and standard improved sexual function in men with concomitant BPH and ED at baseline. This may represent an action independent of relieving lower urinary tract symptoms, because the beneficial effect of doxazosin was reported in patients with no symptomatic BPH.

Comparison of doxazosin with or without tolterodine in men with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction and an overactive bladder

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of combined treatment with doxazosin and tolterodine, as although alpha-blockers are commonly used and generally effective in men with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), a subset of men with BOO and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms often complain of persistent symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a prospective study of 144 consecutive men with BOO at one tertiary urology centre, all had a baseline pressure-flow urodynamic study and were then subdivided into those with BOO or BOO + OAB, based on absence or presence of involuntary detrusor contractions. The Abrams-Griffiths nomogram was used to determine obstructive BOO. After the initial evaluation, all patients were treated with doxazosin 4 mg/day for 3 months. In patients with no symptomatic improvement, tolterodine 2 mg twice daily was added for an additional 3 months.

RESULTS

Of the 144 patients, 76 (53%) were diagnosed as having BOO and 68 (47%) BOO + OAB. The patients with BOO + OAB were older (P < 0.05) and had a higher International Prostate Symptom Score. After 3 months of treatment with doxazosin, 60 (79%) with BOO and 24 (35%) BOO + OAB reported a symptomatic improvement. In those patients with no improvement, six of 16 with BOO and 32 of 44 (73%) with BOO + OAB improved after adding tolterodine. Acute urinary retention developed in only two of 60 men (3.3%) treated with the combined therapy.

CONCLUSION

About half of men with symptomatic BOO had an OAB; while about three-quarters of men with symptomatic BOO and no OAB improved with doxazosin, only a third with BOO + OAB were helped with doxazosin alone. Combining tolterodine with doxazosin was effective in three-quarters of men with BOO + OAB. Overall, most men with BOO with or with no OAB were helped with doxazosin alone or with the addition of tolterodine.

Morning blood pressure surge and hypertensive cerebrovascular disease: role of the alpha adrenergic sympathetic nervous system

BACKGROUND

The morning surge of blood pressure (BP) is associated with alpha-adrenergic activity. We studied the association between the alpha-adrenergic morning surge in BP and silent cerebrovascular disease in elderly patients with hypertension.

METHODS

We conducted ambulatory BP monitoring three times (twice at baseline and after nighttime dosing of the alpha1-blocker doxazosin) in 98 elderly hypertensive patients in whom the presence of silent cerebral infarcts (SCI) was assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging. The morning BP surge (MBPS) was calculated as the mean systolic BP during the 2 h after waking minus the mean systolic BP during 1 h that included the lowest sleep BP. The alpha-adrenergic MBPS was calculated as the reduction of MBPS by doxazosin.

RESULTS

The prevalence of multiple SCI was higher in the Surge group (top quartile: MBPS > or = 45 mm Hg, n = 24) than in the Nonsurge group (MBPS < 45 mm Hg, n = 74) (54% v 31%, P = .04), and in the higher alpha-adrenergic surge group (top quartile: alpha-adrenergic MBPS > or = 28 mm Hg, n = 25) than in the lower alpha-adrenergic surge group (< 28 mm Hg, n = 73) (68% v 26%, P < .0001). In the Surge group, subjects with higher alpha-adrenergic surge (n = 17) had a markedly higher frequency of multiple SCI, whereas none in the lower alpha-adrenergic surge group had multiple SCI (n = 7) (77% v 0%, P = .001). The alpha-adrenergic MBPS was closely associated with multiple SCI (10 mm Hg increase: OR = 1.96, P = .006), independently of age, MBPS, 24-h systolic BP, and other confounding factors.

CONCLUSION

The morning BP surge, particularly that dependent on alpha-adrenergic activity, is closely associated with advanced silent hypertensive cerebrovascular disease in elderly individuals.

Clinical application of wave intensity for the treatment of essential hypertension

Wave intensity analysis is a method of studying intravascular flow wave propagation, calculated as the product of the rate of change in pressure (d P/ t) and the rate of change in velocity (d U/d t). The typical pattern of wave intensity seen during the cardiac cycle has two dominant peaks. The larger first peak (FP) occurs during early systole when a forward traveling compression wave is generated by the left ventricle. The second smaller peak (SP) follows a period of relatively little net wave production during mid-systole. Wave reflection is seen as a small backward-traveling compression wave occurring just after the first peak of wave intensity (NP). In this study, we investigated the usefulness of parameters from the wave intensity for estimating the efficacy of the Alpha-1 blocker, doxazosin, to reduce blood pressure, by the reduction of peripheral vascular resistance. We examined 20 patients with essential hypertension. Patients were included if their diastolic blood pressure was >95 mmHg on at least three separate visits to the clinic. The study consisted of a 2-week baseline phase followed by a 2-4-week dose-adjusted phase with doxazosin. Treatment began with 1 mg/day doxazosin, and the dose was doubled fortnightly until the diastolic blood pressure was <90 mmHg. Blood-pressure measurements and side effects were recorded at intervals of 2 weeks. Before and after 4 weeks of stable treatment with doxazosin, a comprehensive clinical evaluation was given. Doxazosin reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Both FP and SP increased and NP decreased. DeltaMBP (change in mean blood pressure) correlated well with NP before and after the antihypertensive therapy. The efficacy of doxazosin was confirmed by the decreased reflection wave of aortic flow from wave intensity analysis. Thus, patients with a significant reflection wave may be good candidates for antihypertensive treatment by a vasodilator, such as doxazosin.

Comparative efficacy of two alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists, doxazosin and alfuzosin, in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms from benign prostatic enlargement

OBJECTIVES

To compare doxazosin and alfuzosin in patients with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of bladder outlet obstruction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 210 men with LUTS were randomized to receive doxazosin 1-8 mg once daily or alfuzosin 5-10 mg divided in two or three daily doses in a 14-week, multicentre, double-blind, baseline-controlled, dose-titration study. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and maximum urinary flow rate were used to assess the efficacy of the treatment.

RESULTS

At study completion, the mean dose of doxazosin was 6.1 mg/day and alfuzosin 8.8 mg/day. The least squares mean (se) change from baseline in total IPSS was -9.23 (0.6) for doxazosin and -7.45 (0.6) (both P < 0.001) for alfuzosin. The respective mean change from baseline in irritative symptoms was -3.5 (0.2) and -2.8 (0.3) (both P < 0.001). The differences between the treatment groups were statistically significant in favour of doxazosin (total IPSS, P = 0.036; irritative symptoms, P = 0.049). The improvement between groups was also significantly different for postvoid residual urine volume, at -29.19 (8.6) and + 9.59 (8.9) mL for doxazosin and alfuzosin, respectively (P = 0.002). Improvements in mean and maximum urinary flow rates were similar for both treatments, at + 1.5 and + 1.2, and + 2.8 and + 2.5 mL/s, respectively. Doxazosin and alfuzosin were both well tolerated, with most all-cause adverse events reported as mild or moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

The mean doses of doxazosin and alfuzosin used in this study were not equipotent. Doxazosin 6.1 mg/day produced significantly greater improvements than alfuzosin 8.8 mg/day in total and irritative urinary symptom scores and postvoid residual urine volume in men with moderate to severe LUTS. Changes in maximum and mean flow rates were comparable. Doxazosin and alfuzosin were both well tolerated.

Doxazosin controlled release vs tamsulosin in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia: an efficacy analysis

An analysis is presented to compare the efficacies of the doxazosin gastrointestinal therapeutic system (doxazosin-GITS) and tamsulosin in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), collecting data from a published 20-week, randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Results demonstrated that after 8 weeks of treatment, both doxazosin-GITS and tamsulosin provided significant (p < 0.001) improvement from baseline in total international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and obstructive and irritative subscores. Doxazosin-GITS was more effective than tamsulosin (p = 0.019 between-group difference for total IPSS; p = 0.001 for irritative subscore). Similarly, after the first 4 weeks of treatment, prior to dose titration, both doxazosin-GITS and tamsulosin provided significant (p < or = 0.001) improvement in total IPSS and subscores. Doxazosin-GITS was more effective than tamsulosin (p = 0.045 between-group difference for obstructive subscore). These data confirm that the efficacy of doxazosin is superior to that of tamsulosin in the management of patients with BPH.

[Use of alpha-adrenoblockers in therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients with arterial hypertension]

AIM

To compare efficacy and tolerance of tonocardin (doxazosin) and omnik (tamsulosin) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in hypertensive patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Group 1 patients (n = 115, age 44-81 years) with BPH and mild or moderate arterial hypertension (AH) treated with one antihypertensive drug (ACE inhibitor--48, calcium antagonist--26, beta-blocker--22, diuretic--19) were given tonocardin in a single daily dose from 1 to 4 mg for 12 weeks. Group 2 patients (n = 30, age 67-81 years) with BPH and severe AH treated with two antihypertensive drugs and more were given omnik in a single daily dose 0.4 mg for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

In group 1, tonocardin treatment resulted in lowering of a total symptoms score by IPSS scale from 17.5 +/- 3.6 to 14.7 +/- 1.3 points, of quality of life from 4.3 +/- 0.7 to 3.9 +/- 0.3, in a rise of maximal velocity of urine flow (Qmax) from 7.8 +/- 1.2 to 9.4 +/- 0.6 ml/s; residual urine (R) reduced from 112.4 +/- 8.6 to 64.5 +/- 10.2 ml). Systolic arterial pressure went down from 150.5 +/- 13 to 139.8 +/- 13.3 mm Hg, diastolic pressure fell from 86.9 +/- 6.1 to 80.8 +/- 7.1 mm Hg. In group 2, omnik resulted in IPSS scale points lowering from 17.7 +/- 3.5 to 15 +/- 1.1, QOL from 4.5 +/- 0.2 to 3.8 +/- 0.2, Qmax from 7.4 +/- 1.1 to 9.2 +/- 0.5 ml/s, R from 107.5 +/- 12.7 to 63.4 +/- 9.7 ml. Arterial pressure did not change much.

CONCLUSION

Tonocardin and omnik are effective and safe not only in the treatment of BPH but also of BPH combination with AH.

[LUTS in women and possible therapeutic effects of alfa1-adrenoblockers]

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS), including urinary incontinence, are one of the most common problems in women pathology.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the authors is to determine the symptomatic index, to perform an urodynamic assessment and to establish the therapeutic possibilities of the alfa1-adrenoblokers in women with LUTS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the course of a three year period (2001-2003) 74 women, ranging in age from 26 to 76 years old (average age of 48.6), have been examined and monitored. The symptomatic index was measured by a questionnaire, developed on the basis of IPSS and BFLUTS. The urodynamic study was performed with a multi-channel system Dantec-Meneut and includes multi-chanel cystrometry, followed by measuring of the pressure and the speed of urinary flow before the treatment and after it. Therapy with the L1-adrenoblocker Doxazosin was applied to 42 (56.7%) of the patients.

RESULTS

51 (68.9%) women were with predominantly irritative symptoms, and 23 (31.1%)--with predominantly obstructive. The urodynamic studies reval: 1. Obstruction of the lower urinary tract--7 (9.4%); 2. Obstruction with detrusor hyperactivity--15 (20.3%); 3. Detrusor hyperactivity--33 (44.6%); 4. Sensory urge-syndrome--6 (8.1%); 5. Disturbed contractility of the urinary bladder--4 (5.4%); 6. With no significant deviations--9 (12.2%) Total disappearance of the symptoms was achieved in 64.3% of the patients with the prescribed therapy, while in 11.9% symptoms have relapsed after discontinuation of the therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

LUTS in women is not only a gerontology problem. It affects more and more often women in active and child-bearing age. The therapeutic use of alfa1-adrenoblockers is one alternatives in the treatment of these patients.

Doxazosina en formulación de liberación retardada en la retención aguda de orina por hiperplasia benigna de próstata. acción del incremento de dosis sobre el efecto rescate

OBJECTIVE

Prospective and randomised study to assess the effectiveness of doxazosin in sustained release formulation in Acute Urinary Retention (AUR) treatment due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The trial was carried out with a cohort of 40 males who had all suffered their first attack of AUR caused by BPH. Twenty were randomly selected and treated for 7 days with 4 mg of sustained release doxazosin before removing the catheter. The patients not treated that could not spontaneously urinate were also administered 4 mg of doxazosin. Finally, all the patients that still had a catheter due to unsuccessful removal were treated with 8 mg of doxazosin and the percentage of patients responding to treatment was assessed. The predictive value of the response to treatment for age, IPSS, QoL, retained urine volume, prostate volume and the evolution time of the prostratism was determined by means of logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

82.5% of the patients (33/40) could urinate after removal of the catheter. 84.8% (28/33) were treated with doxazosin (21 with 4 mg and 7 with 8 mg). In the first attempt at removal, 60% of the patients (12/20) treated with 4 mg of doxazosin could spontaneously urinate, while only 25% (5/20) of those not treated, p=0.02. Similarly, 60% of the patients (9/15) treated with 4 mg of doxazosin in the second attempt could spontaneously urinate. Fifty per cent (7/14) of the patients still with a catheter, after the treatment with 4 mg of doxazosin, could urinate with 8 mg. In the logistic regression analysis, none of the variables analyzed allowed us to predict the response to the treatment.

CONCLUSION

The treatment for 7 days with 4 mg of sustained release doxazosin shows greater success when removing the catheter after suffering AUR due to BPH. With this treatment, 60% of the patients could spontaneously urinate again. By increasing the dose to 8 mg, the catheter can be removed in half the patients that did not initially respond. Before removing the catheter it is not possible to predict which patients would be able to spontaneously urinate.

Doxazosin, an alpha-1 antagonist, prevents further progression of the advanced atherosclerotic lesion in hypercholesterolemic hamsters

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of doxazosin (DOX) on the further progression and regression of the advanced atherosclerotic lesion in the hypercholesterolemic hamster. Thirty-six, male F(1)B Golden Syrian hamsters, 10 weeks of age, were divided into 3 groups of 12 and fed a nonpurified hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD) containing 10% coconut oil and 0.1% cholesterol (wt/wt) for 9 months (HCD 9). One group of hamsters was euthanized at 9 months and their aortas were collected, fixed, and stored until analysis. The remaining hamsters were either maintained on the HCD for an additional 6 months (HCD 15) or fed the HCD plus 20 mg/kg/d DOX for the 6 months. At the end of the study (15 months), the DOX-treated hamsters had significantly lower plasma total cholesterol (TC) (-68%), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (-73%), and triglycerides (TG) (-74%) compared with the HCD 15. The lumenal narrowing and intimal thickening atherosclerotic lesions were significantly less in the DOX-treated hamsters compared with the HCD 15 (-66% and -70%, respectively). These data suggest that DOX treatment prevents further progression of the advanced atherosclerotic lesion possibly by lowering plasma TC, LDL-C, and TG in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.

Apoptotic and proliferative index after Alpha-1-adrenoceptor antagonist and/or finasteride treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia

INTRODUCTION

The induction of apoptosis has emerged as a potential target for optimization of the medical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), recently. The influence of alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist (alpha1-ARA), 5-alpha reductase inhibitor and their combination on prostatic cell apoptotic and proliferative indices of benign hyperplastic prostate gland were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 49 male patients with BPH (mean age: 66.5 years) treated with alpha1-ARA and/or finasteride were retrospectively evaluated. Patients treated with alpha1-ARA (doxazosin n = 12 and terazosin n = 10), finasteride (n = 9) and combination of finasteride and alpha1-ARA (n = 9) were enrolled in the study. Primary antibodies were Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen for the evaluation of proliferation in prostate stromal and epithelial cells. In situ apoptotic DNA fragmentation was evaluated using TUNEL assay.

RESULTS

All treatment groups had no significant changes in the rate of prostate stromal and epithelial cell proliferation. Epithelial apoptotic index (AI) was not statistically significant for finasteride vs. alpha1- ARA, alpha1-ARA vs. finasteride + alpha1-ARA and finasteride + alpha1-ARA vs. finasteride groups. While alpha1-ARA was more effective than finasteride on stromal apoptosis, alpha1-ARA-induced stromal apoptosis was not significantly different from alpha1-ARA plus finasteirde treatment.

CONCLUSION

Not only androgen variabilities but also alterations in sympathetic neurotransmission with age could have important implications for pathophysiological prostate growth. The combination of finasteride and alpha1-ARA is not superior to alpha1-ARA therapy with their similar epithelial and stromal apoptotic effects with unaffected cell proliferation.

Doxazosin as combination therapy for patients with stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension

The purpose of this paper is to review the role of doxazosin, a long-acting alpha(1)-blocker, as a component of combination therapy for patients with stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension and for patients with concomitant hypertension and hyperlipidemia or glucose intolerance. Recent studies that evaluated doxazosin as combination therapy in the treatment of patients with inadequately controlled hypertension and patients with concomitant hypertension and other disorders were reviewed. Data extraction was based on the tolerability and efficacy data of doxazosin in patients with hypertension. Compared with placebo, doxazosin combination therapy leads to significant improvements in sitting and standing blood pressure. Doxazosin is well tolerated, with only minor adverse effects (e.g., headache, dizziness) as the most commonly reported treatment-related complications. The studies described demonstrate that doxazosin is effective as combination therapy for patients with stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension. The positive effects of doxazosin on serum lipids make combination therapy with doxazosin an attractive treatment option for patients who have concomitant hyperlipidemia or glucose intolerance.

Effect of doxazosin GITS on 24-hour blood pressure profile in patients with stage 1 to stage 2 primary hypertension

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of the doxazosin gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) on the 24 h blood pressure (BP) profile by ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) in patients with stage 1 to stage 2 primary hypertension.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Seventeen hypertensive patients-either untreated or after a two-week run-in/washout period-underwent office and ABPM monitoring before and six weeks after an open-label once-daily morning dose of 4 mg of doxazosin GITS, an alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist. Fourteen patients responded; three did not. Data analyses refers to the responders: linear analysis demonstrated statistically significant reductions from baseline in daytime, night-time, and total 24 h means for systolic BP (SBP) (7-10 mmHg) and diastolic BP (DBP) (5-10 mmHg) after treatment, with no statistically significant change in heart rate (HR). Rhythm analysis demonstrated statistically significant reductions from baseline in mean mesor (8 mmHg), maximum (6 mmHg) and minimum (10 mmHg) values in SBP, and in mean mesor (5 mmHg), maximum (7 mmHg) and minimum (5 mmHg) values in DBP. Circadian rhythm parameters in BP and HR were not significantly altered by treatment. Treatment with doxazosin GITS was well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

A single morning dose of doxazosin GITS at 4 mg significantly reduced ambulatory SBP and DBP throughout a 24 h period while preserving a normal 24 h BP and HR rhythm profile in stage 1 to stage 2 hypertensives.

Safety and effectiveness of replacing standard doxazosin with doxazosin in the gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) formulation in elderly hypertensive patients

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using doxazosin standard formulation in elderly hypertensive patients who were either uncontrolled or newly diagnosed, and replacing standard doxazosin with doxazosin in the gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) formulation. We designed a postmarketing surveillance, open-label non-comparative, multicentre, clinical study covering primary care patients aged 65 years or older diagnosed with essential uncontrolled arterial hypertension. The study covered a period of 6-9 months, divided into two phases. Phase I involved a minimum of three and maximum of six months in treatment with standard doxazosin; phase II began with the changeover from standard doxazosin to the GITS formulation and lasted 12 weeks. Of the 1705 patients initially enrolled, 1292 (75.8%) completed the study. Reduction in systolic blood pressure was 22.3 mmHg (13.7%) in phase I, and 3.9 mmHg (2.77%) in phase II; reduction in diastolic blood pressure was 12.4 mmHg (13.2%) in phase I, and 2.4 mmHg (2.9%) in phase II. The percentage of controlled patients was 40.5% (691/1705) by the end of phase I and 45.3% (776/1705) by the end of phase II. A total of 154 patients suffered adverse events (AE), 127 during phase I and 27 in phase II. We conclude that doxazosin in its two formulations is effective and safe for the purpose of lowering blood pressure in elderly patients.

Effect of doxazosin GITS on blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive patients: a review of hypertension and BPH studies

Doxazosin is an effective treatment for patients with hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the two comorbidly. In its standard formulation, doxazosin requires a multistep titration regimen to minimize a possible first-dose effect. A new extended-release gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) formulation of doxazosin was developed to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of the parent compound and to reduce or eliminate the need for dose titration and the potential risk of overdosing. This review presents an analysis of the effect of doxazosin GITS monotherapy on blood pressure (BP) and tolerability, as evaluated in four clinical trials, two conducted in patients with stage 1 to stage 2 hypertension and two in patients with BPH with different levels of BP. Doxazosin GITS was as effective as doxazosin standard and more effective than placebo was in reducing and controlling BP in patients with hypertension. Among normotensive patients with BPH, no clinically significant effect on BP was observed and no episodes of syncope were recorded. Doxazosin GITS was generally better tolerated than doxazosin standard, based on the proportion of patients with adverse events and those withdrawing due to adverse events. Moreover, the GITS formulation eliminated the need for titration in most patients. Doxazosin GITS is an effective and well-tolerated treatment in patients with hypertension and/or BPH and without heart failure or clinical coronary heart disease and has advantages over doxazosin standard in terms of a simpler dosing regimen and improved tolerability.