Comparative effectiveness of Tamsulosin and Tadalafil therapy in ureteral stents-related symptoms (uSRS)

Introduction: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) can be a complication of ureteral stent insertion. Clinically, PDE5 inhibitors (Tadalafil) and alpha blockers (Tamsulosin) are the preferred drugs for treating lower urinary tract symptoms after ureteral stent insertion, also called ureteral stents-related symptoms (uSRS). This study aims to compare the effectiveness of 0.4 mg/day Tamsulosin and 10 mg/day Tadalafil for treating uSRS. Methods: This study used a double-blinded experimental design. Fifty patients with uSRS were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups; group I (n = 25) received 10 mg/day Tadalafil, while group II (n = 25) received 0.4 mg/day Tamsulosin. The Ureteral Symptoms Score Questionnaire (USSQ) was administered on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day after insertion of the ureteral stent. p values of <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: The administration of 10 mg/day Tadalafil had a good effect in reducing the LUTS score: mean scores were VS = 11.03, p = 4.21, GC = 3.8, WA= 1.29, SA= 1.94, and AS = 3.21. The administration of 0.4 mg/day Tamsulosin also had a good effect in reducing the LUTS score: mean scores were VS = 13.73, p = 9.89, GC = 3.85, WA= 4.31, SA= 0.59, and AS = 4.69. Conclusion: Administration of 10 mg/day Tadalafil had significantly better results compared to 0.4 mg/day Tamsulosin in improving uSRS, except in VS week 2 and in GC weeks 2 and 4.