RAY RACKLEY, MD: The anticholinergic class of medication's effect on the bladder is witnessed by the patient in the following way. They notice that they're able to increase the amount of volume of urine that they actually can hold before they have an accident or the sense of urgency. They actually reduce the frequency of urination and they've shown to reduce the actual frequency of leakage events. So the patient would notice, "I go less often, I have less urgency and, because of the less urgency and frequency, I even have less leakage of urine."
ANNOUNCER: Many patients experience side effects with these drugs.
JOSEPH G. OUSLANDER, MD: By far, the most common and bothersome side effect is dryness of the mouth. They can also cause constipation and, for people who have problems with heartburn or esophageal reflux disease, they can exacerbate those symptoms. They can cause dryness of the eyes. And some patients, may have side effects that relate to the central nervous system, headaches, dizziness, problems with memory.
ANNOUNCER: Side effects sometimes cause people to quit taking the medicine, even if it is effective. Health care providers say that can often be avoided.
DIANE NEWMAN, RNC, MSN: If the drug is effective and it really has helped them with their overactive bladder symptoms and they're having a problem with side effects, I ask them if maybe we can help them manage their side effects. One of the things I suggest is maybe changing the time of day they take the medication. We may see it impact dry mouth or possibly dry eyes.
Another thing that, with constipation, if they find that the drug is causing, maybe, them to be more constipated, I put them on a bowel regimen that may include increased fiber or maybe some type of laxative.
ANNOUNCER: The side effects of anticholinergics result from the effects of the drug on acetylcholine receptors called muscarinic receptors, not only on the bladder, but in other parts of the body as well.
