Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data
Drug Category
Dosage Forms
Brands / Synonyms
Amidopropyldimethylbetaine; Besacholine; Beta-Methyl Carbachol Chloride; Bethaine Choline Chloride; Bethanechol; Bethanechol Chloride; BTC; Carbamylmethylcholine Chloride; Duvoid; Mechotane; Mechothane; Mecothane; Mictone; Mictrol; Myocholine; Myotonachol; Myotonine Chloride; Urabeth; Urecholine; Urecholine Chloride; Uro-Carb
Indications
For the treatment of acute postoperative and postpartum nonobstructive (functional) urinary retention and for neurogenic atony of the urinary bladder with retention.
Pharmacology
Bethanechol is a parasympathomimetic (cholinergic) used for the treatment of acute postoperative and postpartum nonobstructive (functional) urinary retention and for neurogenic atony of the urinary bladder with retention. Bethanechol, a cholinergic agent, is a synthetic ester which is structurally and pharmacologically related to acetylcholine. It increases the tone of the detrusor urinae muscle, usually producing a contraction sufficiently strong to initiate micturition and empty the bladder. It stimulates gastric motility, increases gastric tone, and often restores impaired rhythmic peristalsis. Bethanechol chloride is not destroyed by cholinesterase and its effects are more prolonged than those of acetytcholine.
Mechanism of Action
Bethanechol acts by selectively stimulating muscarinic receptors in the parasympathetic nervous system, inducing no affect on nicotinic receptors.
Absorption
Not Available
Toxicity
Not Available
Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism
Not Available
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to bethanechol chloride tablets, hyperthyroidism, peptic ulcer, latent or active bronchial
asthma, pronounced bradycardia or hypotension, vasomotor instability, coronary artery disease, epilepsy, and
parkinsonism.
Bethanechol chloride should not be employed when the strength or integrity of the gastrointestinal or bladder wall
is in question, or in the presence of mechanical obstruction; when increased muscular activity of the
gastrointestinal tract or urinary bladder might prove harmful, as following recent urinary bladder surgery,
gastrointestinal resection and anastomosis, or when there is possible gastrointestinal obstruction; in bladder neck
obstruction, spastic gastrointestinal disturbances, acute inflammatory lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, or
peritonitis; or in marked vagotonia.
Drug Interactions
Special care is required if this drug is given to patients receiving ganglion blocking compounds because a
critical fall in blood pressure may occur. Usually, severe abdominal symptoms appear before there is such a fall in
the blood pressure.
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