Venlafaxine and bladder function.
BACKGROUND
Occasional case reports describe urinary incontinence in patients taking the selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant venlafaxine.


OBJECTIVE
In this study the authors investigated the possible effect of venlafaxine on urinary function in a series of 9 patients with urinary retention resulting from spinal cord lesions. They primarily sought to understand whether the reported venlafaxine-induced urinary incontinence was a specific drug-induced effect and, if so, whether venlafaxine might be an effective treatment of urinary retention.


METHODS
During a 1-week baseline period, patients measured postvoiding residual volume through a catheter and recorded the number of micturitions within 24 hours. At the end of the baseline period, venlafaxine 75 mg extended-release on a once-daily evening administration schedule was added to their therapy for 1 week.


RESULTS
None of the patients reported severe/uncontrollable side effects while taking venlafaxine. Extended-release venlafaxine (75 mg/day) significantly reduced the postvoiding residual volume and increased the micturition rate; the volume diminished on the first day of treatment and remained stable over the ensuing days.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that venlafaxine could be useful to improve voiding in patients with spinal cord disease.
Inghilleri
Maurizio
M
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy. maurizio.inghilleri@uniroma1.it
Conte
A
A
Frasca
V
V
Bettolo
C Marini
CM
Iacovelli
E
E
Aragona
M
M
Carbone
A
A
Prencipe
M
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride