Contents

Search

bethanechol (Urecholine)

Tradename: Urecholine. Indications: 1) treatment of acute post-operative & post-partum non- obstructive urinary retention & neurogenic atony 2) treatment & prevention of urinary dysfunction due to phenothiazines 3) chronic refractory heartburn, including vagotomized & antrectomized patients Dosage: 1) 10-50 mg PO TID/QID 2) 5 mg SC Tabs: 5, 10, 25, 50 mg Injection: 5 mg/mL, 1 mL Caution: - do NOT give IV or IM, severe cholinergic reactions may occur Pharmacokinetics: 1) GI effects seen within: a) 60-90 minutes of oral ingestion b) 10-15 minutes of SC injection 2) does not cross the blood-brain barrier Adverse effects: 1) oral (< 1%), subcutaneous (1-10%) - hypotension, cardiac arrest, flushed skin, abdominal cramps, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, bronchial constriction, sweating, salivation, vasomotor response 2) other [2] - lacrimation Drug interactions: 1) quinidine & procainamide may antagonize cholinergic effects of bethanecol 2) coadministration of ganglionic blocking agents may result in severe hypotension & abdominal symptoms 3) other cholinergic agents or cholinesterase inhibitors may cause additive effects & increased toxicity Mechanism of action: 1) acetylcholine analog with relatively pure muscarinic receptor agonist activity [4] 2) causes increase in tone of the detrusor muscle 3) stimulates gastric motility & increases gastric tone 4) restores rhythmic peristalsis

Interactions

drug interactions

Related

acetylcholine analog detrusor muscle (musculi detrusor vesicae)

General

ester parasympathomimetic (cholinergic agent) smooth muscle relaxant

Properties

MISC-INFO: elimination route LIVER pregnancy-category C safety in lactation ?

Database Correlations

PUBCHEM correlations

References

  1. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed. Gilman et al, eds. Permagon Press/McGraw Hill, 1996
  2. Drug Information & Medication Formulary, Veterans Affairs, Central California Health Care System, 1st ed., Ravnan et al eds, 1998
  3. Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Drug Formulary, 1998
  4. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed. Gilman et al, eds. Permagon Press/McGraw Hill pg 142, 143