Urinary retention concomitant with methamphetamine use: a case report

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Toxicology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Urinary retention, characterized by impaired bladder emptying and postvoid residual urine, can be acute or chronic.
• While various factors cause urinary retention, its association with methamphetamine use is infrequently documented in scattered case studies.
• This report highlights methamphetamine abuse as a crucial etiological consideration for urinary retention in younger individuals.

Observation:

• A 26-year-old Nigerian man presented with acute urinary retention and lower abdominal pain after recent amphetamine ingestion for weight reduction.
• The patient experienced difficulty urinating a week post-ingestion, presenting to the emergency room with painful distress and suprapubic fullness.
• Successful urethral catheterization provided immediate symptomatic relief and facilitated bladder drainage.

Findings:

• Amphetamine use, particularly methamphetamine, can precipitate acute urinary retention in susceptible individuals.
• Clinical diagnosis of urinary retention is common, but underlying drug-induced causes may be overlooked.
• Prompt catheterization is effective for relieving acute urinary retention and improving patient symptoms.

Implications:

• Clinicians must inquire about drug use history, specifically methamphetamine, when managing urinary retention in younger populations.
• Awareness of drug-induced urinary retention is critical for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
• Urodynamic studies may aid in evaluating complex or recurrent cases of urinary retention potentially linked to substance abuse.