Serotonergic antidepressants and urinary incontinence.
Many new serotonergic antidepressants have been introduced over the past decade. Although urinary incontinence is listed as one side effect of these drugs in their package inserts there is only one report in the literature. This concerns 2 male patients who experienced incontinence while taking venlafaxine. In the present paper the authors describe 2 female patients who developed incontinence secondary to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors paroxetine and sertraline, as well as a third who developed this side effect on venlafaxine. In 2 of the 3 cases the patients were also taking lithium carbonate and beta-blockers, both of which could have contributed to the incontinence. Animal studies suggest that incontinence secondary to serotonergic antidepressants could be mediated by the 5HT4 receptors found on the bladder. Further research is needed to delineate the frequency of this troubling side effect and how best to treat it.
Votolato
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Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
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D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020280:Sertraline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride