Solifenacin in the management of the overactive bladder syndrome

Overactive bladder (OAB) is the term used to describe the symptom complex of urinary frequency and urgency, with or without urge incontinence. Whilst antimuscarinic drug therapy has proven to be effective in the management of patients with symptoms of the OAB syndrome, compliance with medication is often affected by the bothersome antimuscarinic adverse effects of dry mouth, constipation, somulence and blurred vision. The development of bladder selective M3 specific antagonists offers the possibility of increasing efficacy whilst minimising adverse effects. At present, there are no M3 specific antagonists currently available, although solifenacin and darifenacin are under development and are due to be registered in 2004-2005. The purpose of this article is to review the pharmacology and clinical trial data available for solifenacin in addition to examining its emerging role in the treatment of the OAB syndrome.