Diabetic visceral neuropathy: treatment with bethanechol chloride

An 86-year-old diabetic man developed nausea, emesis, abdominal distention, and decreased gastrointestinal motility. A Hollander test confirmed incomplete vagal dysfunction. Treatment with bethanechol chloride resulted in marked improvement which was reproducible after withdrawal and reinstitution of therapy. We believe that treatment with bethanechol chloride deserves further investigation in selected patients with diabetic visceral neuropathy.