How Do Urinary Antispasmodic Agents Work?

Urinaryantispasmodicagents are medications prescribed to treatbladderoveractivity which can causeurinary urgencyandincontinence. Urinary antispasmodic agents increase bladder capacity, delay the desire tovoid, decrease the frequency and urgency to urinate, and reducepain造成的困难inurination.

Urinary antispasmodic agents relax the detrusorsmooth musclewhich contracts to releaseurineand prevent spasms of the muscles around theurinary tract. Urinary antispasmodic agents work in the following ways to decrease uninhibited bladder contractions:

• Blockacetylcholinefrom stimulating muscarinic receptors, which areproteinmolecules on smoothmuscle膀胱粘膜细胞。乙酰胆碱是一种钠tural chemical (neurotransmitter) thatnerveendings secrete to make muscles contract.
• Block the activity phosphodiesterase, anenzymethat breaks down signaling molecules known as cyclicadenosinemonophosphate (cAMP). An increase in cAMP concentration results in the relaxation of smooth muscles.

Urinary antispasmodic agents are available as:

• Oraltablets or syrups
• Topicalgels
• Transdermal patches

Urinary antispasmodic agents are approved by theFDAfor the treatment of the following conditions:

• Overactive bladderwith symptoms of urge, incontinence, urgency, and frequency in adults
• Bladder overactivity caused by nerve damage
• Dysuria(painful urination) and urinary frequency in children

Side effects of urinary antispasmodic agents may include the following:

• Xerostomia(dry mouth)
• Somnolence(drowsiness)
• Pruritus(itching) at the application site fromskinpatches
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Application site reactions such as:
  • Erythema(redness)
  • Rash
  • Vesicles(blisters)
  • Macules(lesions)
• Asthenia(weakness)
• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Hyperpyrexia (hightemperature)
• Blurred vision
• Dry eyes
• Disturbance inocularaccommodation(eyefocusing)
• Cycloplegia (eye accommodation disorder)
• Mydriasis(dilated pupils)
• Increased oculartension
• Pain
• Rhinitis(inflammationof thenasal passage)
• Nasalcongestion
• Drythroat
• Dysuria
• Urinary tract infection
• Eosinophilia(high level of eosinophils, a type ofimmunecells)
• Confusion
• Nervousness
• Impairment of mental alertness
• 内存impairment
• Delirium
• Hallucinations
• Hypertension(high blood pressure)
• Palpitations
• Tachycardia(rapid heartbeat)
• QT prolongation (abnormalECGreading)
• Anorexia(loss of appetite)
• Frequentbowelmovements
• Urticaria(hives)
• Fluid retention
• Hotflush
• Dysphonia(speech difficulty)
• Dysphagia(swallowing difficulty)
• Chestdiscomfort
• Thirst
• 内存impairment
• Concomitant use withcarbamazepine
  • Vomiting
  • Drowsiness
  • Unsteadiness
  • Slurred speech
  • Nystagmus(involuntaryeye movements)

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with yourdoctoror药剂师to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking yourmedicationand never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Genericand brand names of urinary antispasmodic agents include:

• Ditropan XL
• flavoxate
• Gelnique
• oxybutynin
• oxybutynin topical
• oxybutynin transdermal
• Oxytrol
• Oxytrol For Women