MYOTONACHOL®
Glenwood
Bethanechol Chloride
Parasympathomimetic Agent
Action And Clinical Pharmacology: Bethanechol acts principally by producing the effects of stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. 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 rhythmic peristalsis. Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system releases acetylcholine at the nerve endings. When spontaneous stimulation is reduced and therapeutic intervention is required, acetylcholine can be given, but it is rapidly hydrolyzed by cholinesterase, and its effects are transient. Bethanechol is not destroyed by cholinesterase and its effects are more prolonged and predictable than those of acetylcholine.
It has predominant muscarinic action and only feeble nicotinic action. Doses that stimulate micturition and defecation and increase peristalsis do not ordinarily stimulate ganglia or voluntary muscles. Therapeutic test doses in normal human subjects have little effect on the heart rate, blood pressure, or peripheral circulation.
Indications And Clinical Uses: The treatment of acute postoperative and postpartum nonobstructive (functional) urinary retention and for neurogenic atony of the urinary bladder with retention.
As adjunctive therapy in the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux with pyrosis unresponsive to conventional therapy.
Contra-Indications: Hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, lactation, peptic ulcer, latent or active bronchial asthma, pronounced bradycardia or hypotension, vasomotor instability, coronary artery disease, epilepsy and parkinsonism.
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.
Precautions: Drug Interactions : Special care and consideration are required when bethanechol is administered to patients being treated concomitantly with other drugs with which pharmacological interactions may occur. Examples of drugs with potentials for such interactions are: quinidine and procainamide, which may antagonize cholinergic effects: cholinergic drugs, particularly cholinesterase inhibitors, where additive effects may occur.
Special care is required when bethanechol is given to patients receiving ganglionic blocking compounds because a critical fall in blood pressure may occur. Usually, severe abdominal symptoms appear before there is a fall in the blood pressure.
In urinary retention, if the sphincter fails to relax as bethanechol contracts the bladder, urine may be forced up the ureter into the kidney pelvis. If there is bacteriuria, this may cause reflux infection.
Adverse Reactions: Abdominal discomfort, salivation, flushing of the skin (“hot feeling”) and sweating.
Large doses more commonly result in effects of parasympathetic stimulation, such as malaise, headache, sensation of heat about the face, flushing, colicky pain, diarrhea, nausea and belching, abdominal cramps, borborygmi, asthmatic attacks and fall in blood pressure.
Symptoms And Treatment Of Overdose: Symptoms: Symptoms of an overdose are an extension of the adverse effects. In rare instances violent symptoms of cholinergic over-stimulation including fall in blood pressure, circulatory collapse, cardiac arrest, shock, severe abdominal cramps with bloody diarrhea and possibly severe bronchospasm. tag_Treatment
Treatment: Adults: 600 µg atropine s.c. (i.v. emergencies); children: proportionately smaller doses s.c.
Administer the atropine first followed by standard treatment for cardiac arrest, circulatory collapse, shock and/or bronchospasm. Bloody diarrhea and other symptoms of violent cholinergic over-stimulation rarely require any additional treatment following adequate doses of atropine.
Dosage And Administration: Must be individualized, depending on the type and severity of the condition to be treated. Preferably the drug is given when the stomach is empty. If taken soon after eating, nausea and vomiting may occur. The usual adult dosage is 10 to 50 mg 3 or 4 times a day. The minimum effective dose is determined by giving 5 to 10 mg initially and repeating the same amount at hourly intervals until a satisfactory response occurs or a maximum of 50 mg has been given.
The effects of the drug sometimes appear within 30 minutes and usually within 60 to 90 minutes. They persist for up to 6 hours. Individual doses should therefore be spaced at least 6 hours apart.
Availability And Storage: 10 mg: Each white, flat beveled edge with single score tablet contains: bethanechol chloride 10 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium sulfate dihydrate, magnesium stearate BP, maize starch BP and talc BP (iron-free). Bottles of 100.
25 mg: Each white, flat beveled edge with cross score tablet contains: bethanechol chloride 25 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium sulfate dihydrate, magnesium stearate BP, maize starch BP and talc BP (iron-free). Bottles of 100.
MYOTONACHOL® Glenwood Bethanechol Chloride Parasympathomimetic Agent
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