title: Flavoxate in urogynecology: an old drug revisited.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since its emergence in 1967, flavoxate has been used to treat several urogenital tract disorders irrespective of the etiology of the underlying disease, but the main indications have been overactive bladder and urge symptomatology. With the advances in anticholinergic drugs, its popularity has decreased in recent decades.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review we summarize the current status of flavoxate in urogynecological practice focusing on its historical background, mechanism of action, efficacy, clinical experiences, outcomes, side effects and tolerability. We reviewed and analyze all the data and draw the major conclusions. We searched MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library using the keyword "flavoxate", and summarized review articles, original studies and case reports published from 1970 to 2013.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the minimal side effects and high tolerability of flavoxate make it worthy of consideration for the treatment of several clinical urogynecological conditions. It deserves more clinical studies to assess its efficacy as no randomized controlled trials have been performed with flavoxate during the last decade. More studies and novel drug formulations may reveal or improve its efficacy in daily practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gulhane Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, murat804@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zor
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aydur
authors.forename: Roger Roman
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dmochowski
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005422:Flavoxate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006176:Gynecology / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D005422:Flavoxate