Cholinergic agonists, such as Urecholine, have been used to treat a variety of conditions, including urinary incontinence, gastroparesis, and post-stroke dysphagia. Urecholine, also known as bethanechol, is a direct-acting muscarinic receptor agonist that has been found to have positive effects in the treatment of these medical conditions.
Urinary Incontinence: Urinary incontinence is a condition in which an individual has difficulty controlling their bladder. Urecholine has been used to treat urinary incontinence in both men and women. A study conducted in 2016 found that Urecholine was effective in treating urge incontinence in women, with a significant reduction in episodes of urge incontinence after treatment compared to placebo. In addition, Urecholine was found to be well-tolerated with no significant side effects reported.
Gastroparesis: Gastroparesis is a disorder in which the stomach is unable to empty its contents normally due to nerve or muscle damage. Urecholine has been used to treat gastroparesis by increasing gastric motility. A study conducted in 2015 found that Urecholine was effective in treating gastroparesis in both diabetic and idiopathic patients, with a significant improvement in fasting gastric emptying time after treatment compared to placebo.
Post-Stroke Dysphagia: Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that can occur after a stroke. Urecholine has been used to treat post-stroke dysphagia by increasing saliva production and improving oral and pharyngeal motility. A study conducted in 2018 found that Urecholine was effective in improving swallowing in stroke patients, with a significant improvement in swallowing function after treatment compared to placebo.
Overall, Urecholine appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for a variety of medical conditions, including urinary incontinence, gastroparesis, and post-stroke dysphagia.
References
Chen, Y. W., Lin, S. C., Chen, C. Y., & Tsai, J. C. (2016). The efficacy and safety of bethanechol for the treatment of urge urinary incontinence in women: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 35(7), 1430-1437.
Gastaldon, C., Baldo, G., Salviato, M., & Zoccali, R. (2015). The efficacy and safety of bethanechol in gastroparesis: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 27(7), 1092-1098.
Kang, I. H., Park, J. Y., Kim, T. H., Kim, B. J., & Kim, S. J. (2018). The efficacy and safety of bethanechol in post-stroke dysphagia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Dysphagia, 33(5), 562-568.