Currently, the most widely used and effective pharmacologic treatment for the overactive bladder (OAB) is administration of muscarinic receptor antagonists. This strongly suggests that acetylcholine plays some role in the aetiology of bladder overactivity. If one considers the classical picture of the involvement of acetylcholine in the human bladder, this seems surprising. Acetylcholine is the...

Several physiopathologic conditions lead to the manifestation of overactive bladder (OAB). These conditions include ageing, diabetes mellitus, bladder outlet obstruction, spinal cord injury, stroke and brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, interstitial cystitis, stress and depression. This review has discussed research findings in human and animal studies conducted on the above...

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been suggested to play a role in bladder pain by mediating inflammation (12) and functional changes in sensory and sympathetic neurons innervating the urinary bladder (5). Clinically, diseases such as interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) have been associated with elevated urinary levels of NGF (10) and the urothelium of individuals with IC/PBS pr...

The case report of Marti et al. highlights the interest of behavioral and cognitive therapy (BCT) in the treatment of urinary disorders, specially in overactive bladder (OAB). Despite BCT efficacy, and other similar techniques [1], this therapeutic option is not often used probably for 3 reasons: poor patient acceptance for a such treatment, cost of the BCT, and finally, lack of knowledge of th...

The anticholinergics tolterodine and oxybutynin are well established in the management of overactive bladder. However, their activity at muscarinic receptors distant from the target site (i.e., bladder) produces anticholinergic side effects leading to poor tolerability. In 2004, trospium, solifenacin, and darifenacin were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ov...

The mainstay of pharmacologic treatment of overactive bladder is anticholinergic therapy. Cholinergic blockade is efficacious in decreasing the symptoms of urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence, but also is associated with undesirable side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and central nervous system side effects. The property of anticholinergic agents that has been as...

The aim of the randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of solifenacin, a once-daily M3 selective receptor antagonist, in patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Following a single blind 2-week placebo run in period, patients who complained from symptoms of OAB for at least 6 months, were randomized to 4 weeks of solifenacin in ...