Urolithiasis--medical therapies

This review paper provides a summary of medical therapies available for urolithiasis. The summary includes general medical advice, prophylactic medications, dissolution therapy and medical expulsion therapy. The paper is designed to provide a management strategy for all physicians who treat urolithiasis, from general practitioners, to emergency physicians, to urologists.

• To provide an up to date review of the literature in relation to the medical management of stone disease. This will encompass prophylaxis, dissolution therapy and medical expulsion therapy.

• First-time stone formers do not regularly have a full urine and electrolyte evaluation due to the low incidence of a reversible metabolic cause. • However, stone disease is common and over a lifetime urolithiasis can affect up to 10-15% of the population.

• Medical management of stone disease encompasses preventative measures, medical dissolution and medical expulsion therapy.

• Recurrent stone formers should have dietary optimization to decrease the risk of further stones. • Furthermore, the correct use of prophylactic and therapeutic medications can decrease the morbidity associated with ureteric calculi.