Furosemide versus Gosha-Jinki-Gan, a Blended Herbal Medicine, for Nocturnal Polyuria: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficacy of two types of drugs, furosemide and gosha-jinki-gan (GJG), for treatment of nocturia with nocturnal polyuria using a randomized crossover method.

METHODS

A total of 36 patients with nocturnal polyuria were recruited for this study. We assessed the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), frequency volume charts, blood pressure, urine chemistry, serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and body fluid compartments.

RESULTS

Both furosemide and GJG significantly improved the nocturia score in the I-PSS, the I-PSS Quality of Life (QOL) score, actual nocturnal frequency and hours of undisturbed sleep compared with those at baseline. Nocturnal frequency and nocturnal urine volume were more significantly reduced by furosemide treatment than with GJG treatment. The I-PSS total score and nocturnal urine volume significantly improved only by furosemide treatment.

CONCLUSION

Furosemide treatment definitively improved nocturia with nocturnal polyuria. GJG treatment may also induce mild improvement of nocturnal polyuria, although further study is required to confirm its efficacy.