Zolpidem pharmacotherapy combined with alpha-blocker therapy for nocturia unresponsive to alpha-blocker monotherapy in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a preliminary study

Aim The aim of the present study was to determine whether administration of zolpidem, a nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic agent, at night would improve the frequency of nocturia unresponsive to alpha-blocker monotherapy in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Materials and methods The study inclusion criteria were: age >= 50 years, nocturia twice or more per night (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] question 7) after taking alpha-blockers for more than eight weeks, and incomplete frequency-flow chart (FVC). A total of 18 patients met the criteria and constituted the study cohort. Three patients were given 0.2 mg tamsulosin once daily and others were given 4 mg terazosin once daily. All patients were additionally administered 10 mg zolpidem once at night for the eight weeks. Results There were no serious side-effects in any patient. Nocturia decreased from a baseline median (25-75th percentiles) of 3 (3-5) to 3 (3-4.5) episodes after taking alpha-blockers (p = 0.129) and to 2 (1-3) episodes after taking zolpidem and alpha-blockers (p = 0.001) on the IPSS. After treatment, the scores of uroflowmetry values did not significantly changed. However, at eight weeks, voiding symptoms (p = 0.041) and total IPSS scores (p = 0.028) significantly decreased compared with those at baseline. Median (25-75th percentiles) quality-of-life (QoL) index changed from 5 (4-5) at baseline to 3 (3-3) after eight weeks of treatment (p = 0.005). Conclusion Our results indicate that zolpidem resulted in a subjective reduction in nocturia episodes when given to some men with LUTS.