Safety and tolerability of duloxetine in women with stress urinary incontinence.
BACKGROUND
The serotonin/noradrenaline uptake inhibitor duloxetine has been shown to be effective in the medical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.


OBJECTIVE
To review the safety and tolerability of duloxetine with SUI.


METHODS
A systematic Medline search for the key word "duloxetine" was performed, and abstracts from recent international gynaecological and urological meetings were also considered.


RESULTS
Various unpleasant adverse effects exist, among which nausea is the most frequent, but is mild to moderate and transient in most cases. Dose escalation upon initiation of treatment improves the tolerability of duloxetine. The use of duloxetine appears safe as it lacks the cardiovascular adverse effects of older amine reuptake inhibitors.


CONCLUSIONS
Duloxetine has an acceptable safety profile. Dose escalation combined with patient counselling on the intensity and transient nature of adverse effects may help to further improve the benefit/tolerability ratio of duloxetine in the treatment of SUI.
Oelke
M
M
Department of Urology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Roovers
J-P W R
JP
Michel
M C
MC
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013405:Suicide; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000188:drug therapy*
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes