Th side effects of treating overactive bladder with antimuscarinics

This study reviewed previous research to assess the effects of drugs called antimuscarinics to treat patients with overactive bladder. Results from 16 studies concluded that antimuscarinics were linked to more side effects.

Overactive bladder is a condition that can lower quality of life by increasing urination frequency, urination urgency, and night time urination. A family of drugs called antimuscarinics are used to treat overactive bladder. These include drugs such as oxybutinin (Ditropan) and solifenacin (Vesicare).

However, these drugs can cause side effects, especially in older patients. These include dry mouth, blurred vision, increased heart rate, heat intolerance, sedation, headache, urinary tract infections, dizziness, and possibly mild confusion. It is important to research these side effects in order to choose the best treatment.

This study reviewed all the published research on the effects of treating overactive bladder with antimuscarinic drugs in patients 65 and older. Reasons for stoppping treatment were assessed from the 16 reviewed studies.

Antimuscarinic drugs had more side effects than control drugs (false treatment to compare results). These included constipation and urinary retention and varied depending on the specific drug. Higher rates of dizziness, indigestion, and urinary retention were seen with the drug fesoterodine (Toviaz). Patients on darifenacin (Enablex) had higher rates of headaches, and patients on solifenacin had higher rates of urinary tract infections compared to placebo.

This study found that antimuscarinics caused several side effects in elderly patients being treated for overactive bladder. Side effects varied by the type of antimuscarinics prescribed.

The study time was short which may have affected results. More research is needed to better understand the broader effects of antimuscarinics in elderly patients.

Consult your physician about different types of treatment for overactive bladder.