Antimuscarinics for the treatment of overactive bladder: current options and emerging therapies.
Antimuscarinic drugs have been the mainstay in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) for over two decades. An ideal antimuscarinic medicine is one that can normalize bladder function without interfering with parasympathetic regulation of other organs. Currently, extended-release formulations of tolterodine (tolterodine-ER) and oxybutynin (oxybutynin-ER and oxybutynin-TDS) serve as the cornerstone in the pharmacotherapy of OAB. Although these products represent a significant improvement over older agents, especially with respect to convenience of dosing schedule, their tolerability concerns and modest efficacy make them less than ideal therapies. Advances in our understanding of muscarinic receptor pharmacology have raised optimism in our ability to widen the therapeutic index and increase the efficacy of antimuscarinics by selectively targeting one or more of the five muscarinic subtypes. A structurally diverse group of molecules, having varying receptor-selectivity profiles (non-selective, M3 selective, M2 selective, M2 sparing and M5 sparing), are in development for OAB. Results of clinical trials with these drugs must be awaited before their therapeutic value can be accurately judged.
Theravance Inc., 901 Gateway Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94087, USA. shegde@theravance.com
Sharath S
SS
Hegde
Mathai
M
Mammen
Jeffrey R
JR
Jasper
D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic