Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Detrusor Underactivity Model in Rats by Conus Medullaris Transection
Published on: August 28, 2020
The Effectiveness of Anticholinergic Therapy for Overactive Bladders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Andrea Moura Rodrigues Maciel da Fonseca1, Mariana Furtado Meinberg1, Marilene Vale de Castro Monteiro1
1Urogynecology Division, Gynecology Discipline, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Abstract:
The overactive bladder (OAB) has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients. Antimuscarinics have become the pharmacological treatment of choice for this condition. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the evidence from randomized clinical trials about the outcomes of the antimuscarinic drugs available in Brazil on OABs. We searched MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from the inception of these databases through to September 2015. The primary outcome measures were the mean decrease in urge urinary incontinence episodes and the mean decrease in the frequency of micturition. The results suggest that there is a moderate to high amount of evidence supporting the benefit of using anticholinergic drugs in alleviating OAB symptoms when compared with placebo. It is still not clear whether any of the specific drugs that are available in Brazil offer advantages over the others. These drugs are associated with adverse effects (dry mouth and constipation), although they are not related to an increase in the number of withdrawals.
Related Concept Videos
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...
Cholinergic Antagonists: Therapeutic Uses
Respiratory Tract: Ipratropium, aclidinium, and tiotropium treat asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They protect against bronchoconstriction caused by irritants like cigarette smoke, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. They also help reduce nasopharyngeal...
Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions
Gastrointestinal Effects: Antimuscarinics reduce gut contractions, increase gastric emptying, and slow intestinal transit. They partly inhibit gastric acid secretion...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses
Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacokinetics
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

