Urecholine is a parasympathomimetic choline carbamate that selectively stimulates muscarinic receptors without any effect on nicotinic receptors.
Has a long duration of action.
It is used to treat certain bladder problems such as the inability to urinate or empty the bladder completely.
Bethanechol is used to treat bladder problems such as the inability to urinate or empty the bladder related to surgery, or bladder muscle problems.
It may also be used to treat heartburn.
Brand name Urecholine.
It is used to treat certain bladder problems such as the inability to urinate or empty the bladder completely
It works by helping the bladder muscle to squeeze better, improving to urinate.
May also be used to treat heartburn, by helping the stomach muscles move food down out of the stomach faster and by increasing the strength of the muscle between the esophagus and stomach, lower esophageal sphincter.
Helps prevent food/acid in the stomach from rising back into the esophagus.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps/pain, diarrhea, increased saliva/urination, sweating, flushing, watery eyes, or headache may occur.
Common side effects include:
Abdominal cramps/pain
Belching
Borborygmi
Colicky pain
Bronchial constriction
Constricted pupils
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Flushing
Headache
Increased gastric motility
Increased urination
Lightheadedness
Hypotension
Nausea
Salivation
Slow heartbeats followed by fast heartbeats
Sweating
Urinary urgency
Vomiting
Watery eyes
Serious side effects can occur:
Fainting
Tachycardia
Severe abdominal pain
Has known severe interactions with other drugs.
Serious interactions of bethanechol with other drugs is common.
Contraindications to its use:
Hypersensitivity
hyperthyroidism
peptic ulcer
asthma
bradycardia
hypotension
AV conduction defects
CAD vasomotor instability
vagotonia
epilepsy
Parkinsonism
GI or GU obstruction
weak bladder wall
recent urinary bladder surgery
GI resection or anastomosis
spastic GI disturbances
hypertension
obstructive pulmonary disease
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
urinary/GI retention
hyperthyroidism
seizure disorder
brain tumor
respiratory impairment
Dilated pupils may trigger angle closure attack in patients with angle closure glaucoma with anatomically narrow angles without a patent iridectomy.
Potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome reported when coadministered with drugs that impair serotonin metabolism.
Risk of anticholinergic side effects.
This medication should not be used irecent stomach/intestinal/bladder surgery, stomach/intestinal problems, peritonitis, blockage of the bladder, overactive thyroid, lung disease, heart problems, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and blood.
It works by helping the bladder muscle to squeeze better, improving it to urinate.
Pregnancy category US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration oral, subcutaneous
Alleviates dry mouth and is sometimes given orally or subcutaneously to treat urinary retention resulting from general anesthetic, diabetic neuropathy of the bladder, or a side effect of antidepressants; or to treat gastrointestinal lack of muscular tone.
The muscarinic receptors in the bladder and gastrointestinal tract stimulate contraction of the bladder and expulsion of urine, and increased gastrointestinal motility, respectively.
Bethanechol should be used to treat these disorders only after mechanical obstruction is ruled out as a possible cause.
While atropine is given preoperatively to prevent voiding of the bowel/bladder during surgery, Bethanechol is then given postoperatively to revert this action.
Use is contraindicated in patients with asthma, coronary insufficiency, peptic ulcers, intestinal obstruction and hyperthyroidism, as parasympathomimetic action of this drug will exacerbate the symptoms of these disorders.