Propantheline bromide (
INN) is an
antimuscarinic agent used for the treatment of excessive sweating (
hyperhidrosis), cramps or spasms of the stomach, intestines (gut) or bladder, and involuntary urination (
enuresis). It can also be used to control the symptoms of
irritable bowel syndrome and similar conditions. This agent can also be used for patients who experience intense GI symptoms while tapering off of
TCAs.
[1]
Indications
By relaxing the gut muscle, propantheline can relieve pain in conditions caused by
spasm of the muscle in the gut. Relaxing the smooth muscle in the
bladder prevents the involuntary spasms that can allow leakage of
urine from the bladder in the condition known as
enuresis (involuntary urination in adults). Propantheline can also be used to treat excessive
sweating because acetylcholine block also reduces secretions such as sweat and
tears.
Propantheline is one of a group of
antispasmodic medications which work by blocking the action of the chemical messenger
acetylcholine, which is produced by nerve cells, to
muscarinic receptors present in various
smooth muscular tissues, in places such as the gut, bladder and eye. Normally, the binding of acetylcholine induces involuntary smooth muscular contractions.
References
^Vasavada SP, Appell R, Sand PK, Raz S (2004). Female Urology, Urogynecology, and Voiding Dysfunction. Informa Health Care.
ISBN0-8247-5426-3.