Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2007;45:44-48; doi:10.1136/dtb.2007.45644
Copyright © 2007 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

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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 urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage immediately preceded or accompanied by urgency).^1,2 This is usually due to overactive bladder syndrome (defined as urgency, with or without urge incontinence, and usually with frequency and nocturia),¹ which occurs in around 12% of adults, and is similarly prevalent in men and women.² We last reviewed this condition in 2001.³ Since then, two new antimuscarinic drugs, darifenacin (Emselex) and solifenacin (Vesicare) have been licensed in the UK for urge incontinence and/or increased urinary frequency and urgency (as may occur in patients with overactive bladder syndrome),^4,5 as have transdermal oxybutynin (Kentera) and modified-release formulations of tolterodine (Detrusitol XL) and propiverine (Detrunorm XL).^6–8 Here we review the place of these newer drugs and formulations.