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Bethanechol
INFORMATION ABOUT BETHANECHOL
Bethanechol Uses
Bethanechol is used in the treatment of urinary retention. It helps to treat urinary retention (holding urine in the bladder) following an operation or after giving birth.
How Bethanechol works
Bethanechol is a muscarinic agonist. It works by making the contraction of urinary bladder muscle sufficiently strong to initiate urination and empty the bladder.
Common side effects of Bethanechol
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common
Nausea, Vomiting, Sweating, Abdominal discomfort, Salivation, Flushing of skin
CONTENT DETAILS
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Last updated
18 Feb 2020 | 11:51 AM (UTC)
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Medicine brands for Bethanechol
Expert advice for Bethanechol
- Bethanechol helps treat urinary retention (holding urine in the bladder) following an operation or after giving birth.
- Take it on an empty stomach, half an hour before food, to reduce the risk of feeling sick.
- It may cause dizziness or sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
- Do not take it if you are pregnant, planning to conceive, or breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions for Bethanechol
No, Bethanechol is not an anticholinergic, on the contrary it is a cholinergic medicine. It is used to relieve difficulties in urinating caused by surgery, post pregnancy, medicines, or other factors.
It should preferably be taken on an empty stomach. This is because taking it soon after eating may cause nausea and vomiting. The treatment varies from one individual to other depending on the condition being treated. Hence, it should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Bethanechol starts acting quickly, within 60 to 90 minutes of taking it. The effect of the medicine lasts for 6 hours and therefore a gap of at least 6 hours should be maintained between two doses.
If you miss a dose and remember within an hour of the scheduled dose then you can continue with your usual dose. If, however, the gap is more than two or more hours then do not take the medicine and wait until the next dose is due. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Bethanechol may cause severe stomach pain, belching, nausea, diarrhoea, and increased sounds from the stomach when taken in large doses. If you experience these symptoms which are severe and persist for a longer time then you should tell your doctor.
Yes, Bethanechol may make you drowsy and cause sleepiness. If you experience these symptoms, you should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery.
No, you should not take alcohol while taking Bethanechol as alcohol can add to the drowsiness associated with Bethanechol. Additionally, it may increase your risk of having a stomach ulcer.
Yes, Bethanechol affects the blood pressure by decreasing it. This medicine may also slow down your pulse rate. In some cases, especially at the beginning of therapy sudden changes of posture may lead to feeling of dizziness or giddiness (orthostatic hypotension). Consult your doctor in case you experience any of these symptoms.