Efficacy of Duloxetine in the Early Management of Urinary Continence after Radical Prostatectomy

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of early duloxetine therapy in stress urinary incontinence occurring after radical prostatectomy (RP).


MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients that had RP were randomly divided into 2 groups following the removal of the urinary catheter. Group A patients (n = 28) had pelvic floor exercise and duloxetine therapy. Group B patients (n = 30) had only pelvic floor exercise. The incontinence status of the patients and number of pads were recorded and 1-hour pad test and Turkish validation of International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form test were applied to the patients at the follow-up.

RESULTS: When the dry state of the patients was evaluated, 5, 17, 3, and 2 of 28 Group A patients stated that they were completely dry in the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th month respectively and pad use was stopped. There was no continence in 30 Group B in the first 3 months. Twelve, 6, and 8 patients stated that they were completely dry in the 6th, 9th and 12th month, respectively. But 3 of 4 patients in whom dryness could not be provided were using a mean of 7.6 pads in the first day and a mean of 1.3 pads after 1 year. When pad use of the patients was evaluated, the mean monthly number of pad use was determined to be 6.2 (4-8) in the initial evaluation, 2.7 (0-5) in the in 3rd month, 2 (0-3) in the 6th month and 1.6 (0-2) pad/d in the 9th month in the group taking medicine. The mean monthly number of pads used was determined to be 5.8 (4-8) in the initial evaluation, 4.3 (3-8) in the 3rd month, 3 (0-6) in the 6th month and 1.6 (0-6) pad/d in the 9th month in the group not taking medicine.

CONCLUSION: According to the results, early duloxetine therapy in stress urinary incontinence that occurred after RP provided early continence.

Curr Urol. 2015 May;8(1):43-8. doi: 10.1159/000365688. Epub 2015 May 20.

Alan C1, Eren AE1, Ersay AR1, Kocoglu H2, Basturk G1, Demirci E1.

1 Department of Urology, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Medical Faculty, Turkey.
2 Department of Urology, Canakkale Military Hospital, Canakkale, Turkey.