Prostate-Selective α-Antagonist Use Is Associated with Falls and Fractures

Nonselective α-antagonists (e.g., doxazosin, terazosin), which were introduced initially as antihypertensive drugs, often cause dizziness and hypotension when they are used to treat men with urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Several decades ago, prostate-selective α-antagonists with fewer hypotensive effects (i.e., tamsulosin, alfuzosin, and silodosin) were introduced specifically for treating patients with BPH. In this population-based cohort study, researchers used an Ontario administrative database to identify 147,000 men (age, ≥66) who filled first outpatient prescriptions for a prostate-selective α-antagonist to determine whether starting treatment with one of these drugs is associated with excess risks for falls …