Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Nov 25:13:209-223.
doi: 10.2147/CPAA.S289323. eCollection 2021.

Pharmacological Management of Urinary Incontinence: Current and Emerging Treatment

Carlo Gandi  1 , Emilio Sacco  1
Affiliations
Review

Pharmacological Management of Urinary Incontinence: Current and Emerging Treatment

Carlo Gandi et al. Clin Pharmacol. .

Abstract

Pharmacological management of urinary incontinence (UI) is currently based on antimuscarinic and beta-3-agonist drugs. Botulinum toxin A detrusor injections represent an effective but more invasive alternative. This review covers the latest developments of the currently available drugs and the emerging compounds for the treatment of UI. Evidence shows that new antimuscarinics and beta-3-agonists with improved safety profiles may offer unique options to patients intolerant to currently available drugs. Combination therapy proved to be a non-invasive alternative for patients refractory to first-line monotherapy. Exciting advances are ongoing in the research to improve the efficacy/tolerability profile of botulinum toxin, through innovative routes of administration. Several new agents emerged from preclinical studies, some of which have now entered the clinical phase of development and could represent, in the coming years, a new way for the treatment of UI. Recent evidence on the existence of different overactive bladder phenotypes could be the key to tailored treatment. Rather than discovering new molecules, reaching the ability to identify the right drug for the right patient could be the real gamechanger of the future.

Keywords: OAB; antimuscarinics; beta-3-agonists; botulinum; overactive bladder; urgency.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Different approaches for intravesical delivery of botulinum toxin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, et al. The standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function: report from the standardisation sub-committee of the international continence society. Neurourol Urodyn. 2002;21(2):167–178. doi:10.1002/nau.10052 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Fantl AJ. Urinary Incontinence in Adults: Acute and Chronic Management/Urinary Incontinence in Adults. Guideline Panel Update. Rockville (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 1996. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research; Clinical Practice Guideline Number 2: AHCPR publication no. 96-0682.
    1. Ebbesen MH, Hunskaar S, Rortveit G, et al. Prevalence, incidence and remission of urinary incontinence in women: longitudinal data from the Norwegian HUNT study (EPINCONT). BMC Urol. 2013;13(1):27. doi:10.1186/1471-2490-13-27 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sacco E, Prayer-Galetti T, Pinto F, et al. Urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: incidence by definition, risk factors and temporal trend in a large series with a long-term follow-up. BJU Int. 2006;97(6):1234–1241. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06185.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cannon T, Chancellor M. Pharmacotherapy for stress urinary incontinence. Rev Urol. 2003;5:135–141. - PMC - PubMed