Urethral pressure profiles before and after Ornade administration in patients with stress urinary incontinence

Urethral pressure profilometry was done on 12 women with stress urinary incontinence and in 6 women with no history of incontinence, before and 1 to 2 hours after the administration of Ornade. Eleven of the 12 women with stress urinary incontinence had increases in the maximal urethral pressure of 20 per cent or more over the control value. Only 1 of the 6 control women exhibited an increase in the maximal urethral pressure of greater than 20 per cent after the administration of Ornade. It is believed that the phenylpropanolamine component of Ornade stimulates alpha-adrenergic receptors at the vesical neck and in the proximal urethra to achieve the therapeutic effect of reducing or eliminating stress urinary incontinence. This drug is preferred over ephedrine primarily because of its sustained release, allowing dosage twice a day, and because of its relative freedom from side effects.