Abstract
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, was tested alone and in combination with oxybutynin chloride for its clinical effectiveness in the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia in a spinal cord injured population. Fourteen patients with detrusor hyperreflexia were included. All patients were treated with oxybutynin chloride alone and with the combination of oxybutynin chloride and verapamil. Six of the patients were also studied on no medication and verapamil alone. Cystometric and clinical comparisons were made with each change in drug dosage. Verapamil 240SL, when used alone, produced a delay in the first detrusor contraction as compared to no medication in 5 of the 6 patients but clinical improvement was insignificant. Clinical improvement with tolerable side effects was noted in 13 of the 14 patients treated with the combination of oxybutynin chloride and verapamil over oxybutynin alone. Our early experience with verapamil suggests that it may be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Andersson K -E 1984 Clinical Pharmacology of Terodiline. Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology. Supplementum 87: 13–20.
Andersson K-E, Forman A 1986 Effects of calcium channel blockers on urinary tract smooth muscle. Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica 58(Suppl. 2): 193–200.
Andersson K -E, Ulmsten U 1980 Drug treatment of the overactive detrusor. Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica 46(Suppl 1):7.
Forman A, Andersson K -E, Henriksson L et al 1978 Effects of nifedipine on the smooth muscle of human urinary tract in vitro and in vivo. Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica (Kbh), 43: 111.
Henry P D 1980 Comparative pharmacology of calcium antagonists: nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem. American Journal of Cardiology 46: 1047–1058.
Khanna P, Barbieri E J, Moss M et al 1983 Effects of calcium and verapamil on vesicourethral smooth muscle of rabbits. Urology 21: 284–290.
Klarskov P, Gerstenberg T C, Hald T 1986 Bladder training and Terodiline in females with urge incontinence and stable detrusor function. Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology 20: 41–46.
Lukkarinen O, Grohn P, Wilen-Rosenqvist G et al 1987 A controlled, double-blind, crossover study of terodiline in motor urge incontinence. Annales Chirurgiae et Gynaecologiae 76: 128–132.
Maggi C A, Grimaldi G, Meli A 1982 The effect of nifedipine and verapamil on spontaneous and carbachol induced contractions of rat urinary bladder in vivo. Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn.Ther. 258: 288–294.
Maggi C A, Meli A 1984 The effect of nifedipine and verapamil on KCl-induced rhythmic contractions of guinea pig ureter in vitro. Experientia, 40: 681–686.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bodner, D., Lindan, R., Leffler, E. et al. The effect of verapamil on the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia in the spinal cord injured population. Spinal Cord 27, 364–369 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1989.56
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1989.56