Does tamsulosin or mirabegron improve ureteral stent-related symptoms? A prospective placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tamsulosin or mirabegron on ureteral stent-related symptoms.

Patients and methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, and single-blinded study. In total, 180 patients who had undergone ureterolithotripsy and ureteral stent insertion were included. Patients were randomly divided into three groups as follows: Group 1 was the control group taking placebo; group 2 was administered tamsulosin (0.4 mg) once a day; and group 3 received mirabegron (50 mg) once a day. The Turkish version of the ureteral stent symptom questionnaire was filled out after 4 weeks.

Results: After excluding patients who were lost to follow-up, 161 patients were included in the final analysis. Analgesic usage doses were lower in the tamsulosin (5.1 ± 1.8) and mirabegron (4.5 ± 1.4) groups than in the control group (5.9 ± 2.1; P < .001). The urinary symptoms score was lower in tamsulosin group than it was in the control group (22.1 vs 27.8; P = .001); however, the other scores (body pain, general health, work performance, sexual matters, and other problems) were similar between the groups.

Conclusions: Tamsulosin improves only urinary symptoms due to the ureteral stent and decreases the need for analgesics. Mirabegron has no effect on ureteral stent-related symptoms, but it decreases analgesic need.

Keywords: lower urinary tract symptoms; mirabegron; tamsulosin; ureteral stent.