From the Guidelines
Alpha-blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, anticholinergics, beta-3 agonists, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are the primary medications used to treat urinary frequency in men, with the choice of medication depending on the underlying cause of the frequency and individual patient factors. When considering treatment options, it's essential to evaluate the patient's specific symptoms and medical history.
- Alpha-blockers like tamsulosin (Flomax) 0.4mg daily, alfuzosin (Uroxatral) 10mg daily, or silodosin (Rapaflo) 8mg daily are often used to relax prostate and bladder neck muscles, improving urine flow and reducing frequency 1.
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride (Proscar) 5mg daily or dutasteride (Avodart) 0.5mg daily can shrink the prostate over 3-6 months, helping with frequency caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) 1.
- Anticholinergics like oxybutynin (Ditropan) 5mg twice daily or tolterodine (Detrol) 2mg twice daily can reduce bladder overactivity, but should be used with caution in patients with a post-void residual (PVR) volume of >150 ml 1.
- Beta-3 agonists such as mirabegron (Myrbetriq) 25-50mg daily can relax the bladder with fewer side effects than anticholinergics, and have been shown to be effective in treating overactive bladder symptoms in men with BPH [@96@, @99@].
- Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors like tadalafil (Cialis) 5mg daily can also be used to treat urinary frequency in men with BPH, and have been shown to improve lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction [@104@, @105@]. It's crucial to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any medication, as the choice depends on the underlying cause of frequency, whether it's BPH, overactive bladder, or another condition, and to discuss potential side effects and interactions 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Mirabegron was evaluated in three, 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter clinical trials in patients with overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency The co-primary efficacy endpoints in all 3 trials were (1) change from baseline to end of treatment (Week 12) in mean number of incontinence episodes per 24 hours and (2) change from baseline to end of treatment (Week 12) in mean number of micturitions per 24 hours, based on a 3-day micturition diary Results for the co-primary endpoints and mean volume voided per micturition from Studies 1,2, and 3 are shown in Table 6 Mirabegron 25 mg was effective in treating the symptoms of OAB within 8 weeks and mirabegron 50 mg was effective in treating the symptoms of OAB within 4 weeks.
Medications used to treat urinary frequency in men include:
- Mirabegron (2): effective in treating symptoms of overactive bladder, including urinary frequency
- Finasteride (3): reduces prostate volume and improves symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which can include urinary frequency
Note: While finasteride is used to treat BPH, which can cause urinary frequency, it is not specifically indicated for overactive bladder. However, it may be used in combination with other medications to treat urinary frequency in men with BPH.
From the Research
Medications for Urinary Frequency in Men
The following medications are used to treat urinary frequency in men:
- Anticholinergic drugs 4
- α-receptor antagonists 4, 5, 6
- 5-α reductase inhibitors 4, 5, 6, 7
- Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-I) 5, 6
- Muscarinic receptor antagonists 5, 6
- Beta3-adrenoceptor agonists 6
- Phytotherapeutics 5, 6
Combination Therapies
Combination therapies are also used to treat urinary frequency in men, including: