Treatment of overactive bladder: what is on the horizon?

Abstract

There is still a need to develop additional effective and well-tolerated therapies for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB). The purpose of this review is to discuss alternative therapies for idiopathic OAB that employ a unique mechanism of action or offer a novel application of an existing therapy. We performed a comprehensive literature review to identify alternative therapies and potential future treatments for idiopathic OAB. The use of botulinumtoxin for idiopathic OAB is on the rise and FDA approval will likely be granted in the future. New innovations in neuromodulation hold the promise of less invasive and more patient-controlled therapies. A number of novel medications, such as β-adrenoreceptor agonists, or medications with alternative indications, such as phosphodiesterase inhibitors, have been identified as potential therapies for OAB. In addition, novel drug delivery systems, such as vaginal inserts, are also in development and may provide an attractive mechanism to deliver medications with proven efficacy. While conservative measures such as behavioral modification and pelvic floor exercises remain first-line therapy for OAB, anti-muscarinics are the mainstay of medical treatment. For patients with idiopathic OAB refractory to traditional first-line therapies, a number of promising new treatments are on the horizon.