Treatment of Mixed-type urinary incontinence in women, with propiverine hydrochloride

This study looked at Propiverine Hydrochloride (PH – Aponorm) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women with mixed type urinary incontinence. It concluded that PH reduced cases of incontinence in both stress and urge urinary incontinence.

Mixed urinary incontinence is a mix of stress (SUI – leaking urine while coughing or laughing) and urge incontinence (UUI – unable to control bladder and hold on to urine). Mixed urinary incontinence can have a very negative impact on quality of life. Therapies for SUI are lacking but may include surgery which can lead to many complications. Medication can be an effective treatment for urinary incontinence. PH is an anticholinergic drug, meaning that it relaxes the muscles of the bladder to reduce incontinence. PH is already approved to treat UUI but its exact effects in SUI are unknown.

This study included 49 women with mixed urinary incontinence. Patients were assessed through their own bladder voiding diary and an incontinence questionnaire. Patients were also assessed with urodynamic testing which studied the functions of storage and emptying of urine from the bladder.

The number of episodes of stress and urge incontinence was measured at the beginning, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after PH treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, there was a 63.9% reduction in urge incontinence and 44.3% reduction in stress incontinence episodes. The scores from the incontinence and overactive bladder questionnaires were also reduced. 

Thirst occurred in 10% of patients and constipation occurred in 6.7% of patients. Other factors such as high blood pressure and a wide bladder neck led to an increase in SUI episodes. No serious side effects were noted.

This study concluded that PH treatment reduced episodes of UUI and SUI in mixed urinary incontinence after 12 weeks. 

It should be noted that the main tests in this trial were patients' opinions, and this may differ from patient to patient.

Talk to your doctor about propiverine hydrochloride if you have bladder symptoms.