Vardenafil and Tamsulosin in the Management of Ureteral Stent–Related Symptoms: A Prospective Comparative Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of vardenafil, a phosphodi esterase-5 inhibitor, and tamsulosin, an alpha-blocker, in the management of ureteral srtent–elated symptoms.

Methods: A total of 208 patients who underwent ureteric stent placement after the removal of ureteric stones were enrolled and randomly divided to receive either var denafil 10 mg daily or tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily for a duration of 3 weeks. The validated
Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ) was used to assess patients at baseline and after 3 weeks from starting the medications.

Results: This study compared tamsulosin and vardenafil in 208 patients (101 vs. 107) with a mean age of 45.07 ± 9.5 years, predominantly male (67.4%); both groups were similar in baseline characteristics (P >.05). A notable statistical significant reduction in total scores from the first visit to the fourth visit (vardenafil: 136.03 to 85.01; tamsulosin: 129.9 to 97). Vardenafil showed a statistically significant improvement (P <.001) com pared to tamsulosin across all USSQ domains except body pain, which has statistically
significant improvement in the tamsulosin group. During the follow-up visits, varde nafil had statistically significant improvement in all USSQ domains; however, tamsu losin had statistically significant improvement in all USSQ domains except in sexual
health (P = .5). Side effects were mild, with retrograde ejaculation and hypotension in the tamsulosin group and headaches in the vardenafil group.

Conclusion: Vardenafil showed promising results in controlling stent-related symp toms and can be considered an alternative or adjunct medication to tamsulosin in the management of stent-related symptoms; however, this needs further exploration in larger, multi-center studies to validate these findings and optimize patient outcomes in clinical practice.

Cite this article as: Abdellatif A, Mohamed A, Massoud A, Elbary AA, Elmarakbie A. Vardenafil and tamsulosin in the management of ureteral stent–related symptoms: A prospective comparative study. Urol Res Pract. 2025;51(4):153-158.