Update on drugs for overactive bladder syndrome

doi:10.1136/dtb.2007.45644

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2007;45:44-48; doi:10.1136/dtb.2007.45644

Update on drugs for overactive bladder syndrome

Relevant BNF section: 7.4.2

Around 1.5% of adults in Europe and the USA have urge urinaryincontinence (involuntary leakage immediately preceded or accompaniedby urgency).^1,2 This is usually due to overactive bladder syndrome(defined as urgency, with or without urge incontinence, andusually with frequency and nocturia),¹ which occurs in around12% of adults, and is similarly prevalent in men and women.²We last reviewed this condition in 2001.³ Since then, two newantimuscarinic drugs, ${blacktriangledown}$ darifenacin (Emselex) and ${blacktriangledown}$ solifenacin(Vesicare) have been licensed in the UK for urge incontinenceand/or increased urinary frequency and urgency (as may occurin patients with overactive bladder syndrome),^4,5 as have ${blacktriangledown}$ transdermaloxybutynin (Kentera) and modified-release formulations of tolterodine(Detrusitol XL) and propiverine (Detrunorm XL).^6–8 Herewe review the place of these newer drugs and formulations.