Bethanechol Side Effects

Brand Names: Urecholine

Please note - some side effects for Bethanechol may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Bethanechol - for the Consumer

Bethanechol

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Bethanechol:

Belching; change in pupil size or vision; constant feeling of having to urinate; diarrhea; discomfort; dizziness; fainting; fall in blood pressure; flushing causing a feeling of warmth; headache; lightheadedness; nausea; pain; rumbling stomach; salivation; sensation of heat around the face; stomach cramps; sweating; tearing; urinary urgency.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); asthma attacks.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Bethanechol Side Effects - for the Professional

Bethanechol

Adverse reactions are rare following oral administration of Bethanechol, but are more common following subcutaneous injection. Adverse reactions are more likely to occur when dosage is increased.

The following adverse reactions have been observed: Body as a Whole: malaise; Digestive: abdominal cramps or discomfort, colicky pain, nausea and belching, diarrhea, borborygmi, salivation; Renal: urinary urgency; Nervous System: headache; Cardiovascular: a fall in blood pressure with reflex tachycardia, vasomotor response; Skin: flushing producing a feeling of warmth, sensation of heat about the face, sweating; Respiratory: bronchial constriction, asthmatic attacks; Special Senses: lacrimation, miosis.

Causal Relationship Unknown

The following adverse reactions have been reported, and a causal relationship to therapy with Bethanechol has not been established: Body as a Whole: malaise; Nervous System: seizures.

Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

General

Adverse reactions occur more commonly following subcutaneous administration of bethanechol than with oral administration.

Cholinergic overstimulation with symptoms of circulatory collapse, fall in blood pressure, abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, shock, or sudden cardiac arrest has been reported rarely with subcutaneous administration of bethanechol. Atropine sulfate should be available to treat symptoms of toxicity when bethanechol is administered subcutaneously. The adult dose of atropine is 0.6 mg administered subcutaneously every 2 hours, according to patient response.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included decreased blood pressure with reflex tachycardia and vasomotor response.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included headache and seizure. Hypothermia has been reported. An acute dystonic reaction associated with the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux during bethanechol therapy in an infant has been reported.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included abdominal cramps, colicky pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, and borborygmi.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included lacrimation and miosis.

Renal

Renal side effects have included urinary urgency.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included aggravation of asthma and bronchial constriction.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included warmth/heat, flushing, and sweating. A case of miliaria crystallina associated with the use of bethanechol in a diabetic patient with autonomic bladder neuropathy has been reported.

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