$Unique_ID{BRK01854}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{BETHANECHOL}
$Subject{bethanechol chloride (various manufacturers); Duvoid (Norwich-Eaton); 
Myotonachol (Glenwood); Urabeth (Major); Urecholine (Merck Sharp & Dohme)}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Urecholine*0185401.scf}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


BETHANECHOL
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BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers):
     bethanechol chloride (various manufacturers)
     Duvoid (Norwich-Eaton)
     Myotonachol (Glenwood)
     Urabeth (Major)
     Urecholine (Merck Sharp & Dohme)
TYPE OF DRUG:
     Cholinergic
INGREDIENT:
     bethanechol
DOSAGE FORM:
     Tablets (5 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg)
STORAGE:
     Bethanechol should be stored at room temperature in a tightly closed
       container.

USES

     Bethanechol is used to relieve retention of urine in the bladder.  It
acts on the nerves of the bladder to cause emptying.

TREATMENT

     Bethanechol should be taken on an empty stomach one hour before or two
hours after a meal.  If it is taken soon after eating, nausea and vomiting may
occur.
     If you miss a dose and remember within an hour, take the missed dose
immediately.  If more than an hour has passed, do not take the missed dose at
all; just return to your regular dosing schedule.  Do not double the next
dose.

SIDE EFFECTS

     Minor.

     Abdominal cramps, belching, diarrhea, dizziness, excessive salivation,
flushing of the skin, headache, nausea, sweating, or vomiting.  These side
effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.
     If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a
sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs.

     Major.

     Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
particularly bothersome.  IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
chest pain, feeling faint, or shortness of breath.

INTERACTIONS

     Bethanechol interacts with several other types of drugs:
     1. Procainamide and quinidine can decrease the therapeutic effects of
bethanechol.
     2. Concurrent use of bethanechol and mecamylamine or trimethaphan can
lead to a serious drop in blood pressure.
     Before starting to take bethanechol, BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
any medications you are currently taking, especially any of those listed
above.

WARNINGS

     * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
any medications, especially to bethanechol.
     * Before starting to take this medication, be sure to tell your doctor if
you have ever had any of the following disorders:  asthma, epilepsy, heart
disease, high or low blood pressure, Parkinson's disease, stomach ulcers,
thyroid disease, or an obstruction of the intestine or bladder.
     * If this drug makes you dizzy, avoid taking part in any activity that
requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating potentially dangerous
equipment.
     * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.  Although bethanechol
appears to be safe during pregnancy, extensive studies in humans have not been
conducted.  Thus, bethanechol should only be administered during pregnancy if
the benefits to the mother clearly outweigh potential risks to the fetus.
Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.  It is not known small
amounts of bethanechol pass into breast milk, so cautious use is warranted in
nursing women.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
