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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Detrusor Underactivity Model in Rats by Conus Medullaris Transection
Published on: August 28, 2020
Effects of bethanechol chloride and distigmine bromide on postvoiding residual volume in patients with underactive
1Department of Integrative Cancer Therapy and Urology Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan - azuizu2003@yahoo.co.jp.
Aim:
The efficacy of cholinergic drugs for reduction of post-voiding residual volume (PVR) in patients with underactive bladder is still controversial. This study was performed to examine whether cholinergic drugs have such an effect on PVR.
Methods:
Patients with underactive bladder treated for more than two months with cholinergic drugs, which were later discontinued, were extracted retrospectively based on their charts. The changes in PVR, cholinesterase activity (ChE), renal function, and voiding function before and after discontinuation of cholinergic drugs were reviewed and analyzed.
Results:
Twenty-nine patients were included in this study. In multiple linear regression analysis, the discontinuation of distigmine bromide (DB) was indicated as a significant covariate for PVR increase and ChE increase, while bethanechol chloride (BC) was not a significant covariate. The increase in ChE was significantly correlated with both PVR and voided volume after discontinuation of cholinergic drugs.
Conclusion:
DB could reduce PVR via a decrease in ChE. However, BC at doses up to 60 mg did not reduce PVR. DB may be recommended for the reduction of PVR in patients with underactive bladder.
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