OBJECTIVES: The use of anticholinergic drugs in the elderly may lead to negative events such as falls, delirium, urinary retention and cognitive decline, and the higher the number of anticholinergic drugs use, the more such negative events occur. This study aims to analyze the risk factors associated with the prescription of total anticholinergic drugs in elderly outpatients and evaluate the rationality of anticholinergic drugs, and to provide a reference for reducing the adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs. METHODS: A list of drugs with anticholinergic activity based on the Beers criteria was established. The basic information (such as age and gender), clinical diagnosis, and medications of elderly outpatient were extracted from hospital electronic medical records, and the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) Scale was used to calculate the anticholinergic burden for each patient. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the potential risk factors for the occurrence of problems such as multiple medication and insomnia. RESULTS: A total of 1 840 prescriptions for elderly patients were reviewed. Of these patients, ACB score was more than or equal to 1 in 648 (35.22%) patients. Number of prescription medication (95% CI: 1.221 to 1.336) and insomnia (95% CI: 3.538 to 6.089) were independent factors affecting ACB scores (both P<0.01). Medications for patients of ACB scores were most commonly treated with the central nervous system drugs (such as alprazolam and eszopiclone) and for the cardiovascular system drugs (such as metoprolol and nifedipine). CONCLUSIONS There is a high rate of ACB drugs use in geriatric patients, and the clinical focus should be on multiple medication prescriptions, especially on the central nervous system drugs (such as alprazolam and eszopiclone) and cardiovascular system drugs (such as metoprolol and nifedipine). The prescription review should be emphasized to reduce adverse reactions to anticholinergic drugs in elderly patients.
Humans ; Aged ; Cholinergic Antagonists/adverse effects* ; Outpatients ; Metoprolol ; Alprazolam ; Eszopiclone ; Nifedipine ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: OnabotulinumtoxinA has demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) associated with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB); however, real-world evidence is limited. This postmarketing surveillance study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA in Korean patients with UI associated with NDO or OAB with an inadequate response or intolerance to anticholinergics. METHODS: Patients received 200 U (NDO) or 100 U (OAB) of onabotulinumtoxinA. Effectiveness (assessed using the validated International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form [ICIQ-SF]) and safety were assessed for 1–4 months after onabotulinumtoxinA administration. RESULTS: Overall, 686 patients (NDO, 161; OAB, 525) comprised the safety population; of these, 612 patients were analyzed for effectiveness. There was a significant decrease (P<0.0001) in the mean (standard deviation) ICIQ-SF scores in the NDO (–6.8±5.5) and OAB (–6.0±6.4) groups after onabotulinumtoxinA administration. A decrease of >5 points from baseline in the ICIQ-SF score was observed in 64.9% and 47.3% of patients in the NDO and OAB groups, respectively. Following treatment, 59.9% in the NDO group and 43.0% in the OAB group were dry. There was no effect of age on effectiveness in either group. Only 10 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were reported in 5.6% of NDO patients and 20 ADRs in 3.2% of OAB patients. Most ADRs in both groups were related to the lower urinary tract such as dysuria (NDO, 1.2%; OAB, 0.6%) and urinary retention (NDO, 0.6%; OAB, 1.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Effectiveness and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA in Korea in a real-world setting was demonstrated.
Cholinergic Antagonists ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Dysuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Retention ; Urinary Tract

OBJECTIVES: The current study covers a secondary revision of the guidelines for the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia issued by the Korean Medication Algorithm for Schizophrenia (KMAP-SCZ) 2001, specifically for co-existing symptoms and antipsychotics-related side-effects in schizophrenia patients. METHODS: An expert consensus regarding the strategies of pharmacotherapy for positive symptoms of schizophrenia, co-existing symptoms of schizophrenia, and side-effect of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia was retrieved by responses obtained using a 30-item questionnaire. RESULTS: For the co-existing symptoms, agitation could be treated with oral or intramuscular injection of benzodiazepine or antipsychotics; depressive symptoms with atypical antipsychotics and adjunctive use of antidepressant; obsessive-compulsive symptoms with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antipsychotics other than clozapine and olanzapine; negative symptoms with atypical antipsychotics or antidepressants; higher risk of suicide with clozapine; comorbid substance abuse with use of naltrexone or bupropion/ varenicline, respectively. For the antipsychotics-related side effects, anticholinergics (extrapyramidal symptom), propranolol and benzodiazepine (akathisia), topiramate or metformin (weight gain), change of antipsychotics to aripiprazole (hyperprolactinemia and prolonged QTc) or clozapine (tardive dyskinesia) could be used. CONCLUSION: Updated pharmacotherapy strategies for co-existing symptoms and antipsychotics-related side effects in schizophrenia patients as presented in KMAP-SCZ 2019 could help effective clinical decision making of psychiatrists as a preferable option.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Aripiprazole ; Benzodiazepines ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Clinical Decision-Making ; Clozapine ; Consensus ; Depression ; Dihydroergotamine ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Metformin ; Naltrexone ; Propranolol ; Psychiatry ; Schizophrenia ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Suicide ; Varenicline

Rabbit Syndrome is an uncommon side effect of antipsychotic treatment. Although it is usually associated with typical antipsychotics, it can also be related to atypical antipsychotics. Anticholinergics are the most accepted treatment approach in treating Rabbit Syndrome. Fluvoxamine is a member of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and it is a potent agonist of sigma 1 receptors. In this article, we report a Rabbit Syndrome case who has benefited from fluvoxamine, in terms of both depressive disorder and Rabbit Syndrome; and present the data on the effects of sigma 1 agonist fluvoxamine on numerous movement disorders.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Depressive Disorder ; Fluvoxamine ; Movement Disorders ; Receptors, sigma ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors

Appropriate pharmacologic therapy can reduce symptoms and risk and severity of exacerbations, as well as improve the health status and exercise tolerance of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The most important medications for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are inhaled bronchodilators including beta2-agonist and anticholinergics. Inhaled corticosteroids as anti-inflammatory drug should be considered in certain patients with caution considering risk and benefit. The choice within each class depends on the availability of medication and the patient's responses and preferences. Each treatment regimen needs to be individualized as the relationship between severity of symptoms, airflow limitation and severity of exacerbation can differ between patients.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Drug Therapy ; Exercise Tolerance ; Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory Therapy

Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders world widely. Although curable therapies are practically not available yet, symptomatic managements using anti-Parkinson medications have shown to be quite effective to improve patients' quality of life. The discovery of dopaminergic deficits in Parkinson's disease in 1960s have brought about the human clinical trials of levodopa, which opened an “Era of Dopamine” in treatment history of the Parkinson's disease. Levodopa still remains gold standard. Dopamine agonists have proved their efficacies and delayed the development of long-term complications of levodopa use. Inhibitors of respective enzyme monoamine oxidase-B and catechol-O-methyltransferase, anticholinergics, and amantadine strengthen the therapeutic effects via either monotherapy or adjunctive way. Strategy of continuous dopaminergic stimulation and disease modification are weighing in current advances. This article is providing evidence-based review of pharmacological treatment of Parkinson's disease from early to advanced stages as well as management its unavoidable adverse reactions.
Amantadine ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Dopamine Agonists ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Parkinson Disease ; Quality of Life ; Therapeutic Uses

Background: Systemic absorption of topical phenylephrine administered during mydriasis may potentially cause hemodynamic changes in patients. Objective: To compare the hemodynamic outcomes between patients given tropicamide+phenylephrine and those given tropicamide alone for mydriasis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City, from April to June 2017. Participants: 56 male and female patients aged ≥ 19 years and scheduled for mydriasis. Interventions: Random allocation to either one drop of 0.5% tropicamide plus 0.5% phenylephrine or one drop of 0.5% tropicamide for mydriasis of the examined eye. Main outcome measures: Mean systolic BP, mean diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, mean heart rate, and at least one episode of tachycardia or bradycardia. Main results: Thirty (53.57%) patients received tropicamide drops, and the rest received tropicamide+phenylephrine drops. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the two intervention groups were comparable at baseline. The mean blood pressures and heart rates at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes postmydriasis did not significantly differ between the two groups. Four patients from the tropicamide group, and none from the phenylephrine+tropicamide group had tachycardia (p=0.1153). On the other hand, five patients from the tropicamide group, and four from the phenylephrine+tropicamide group had bradycardia (p=1.0000). Conclusion Hemodynamic outcomes did not significantly differ up to 60 minutes after mydriasis between patients who received tropicamide+phenylephrine drops and those who received tropicamide drops.
Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Sympathomimetics ; Muscarinic Antagonists ; Parasympatholytics

PURPOSE: To evaluate adherence to anticholinergic therapy (AT) and clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to identify factors associated with poor adherence. METHODS: This single-center study prospectively included 49 patients suffering from MS who had been prescribed AT and/or CISC. Adherence was evaluated using a self-report questionnaire. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Patient Global Impression of Improvement, Mini-Mental State Examination, Urinary Symptom Profile, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) instruments were administered, and the number of daily anticholinergic pills and/or catheterizations was noted. Whether patients were receiving concomitant intradetrusor botulinum toxin injections was assessed, as were barriers to treatment, side effects, number of spontaneous micturitions, reasons for the prescription, satisfaction, and difficulties. RESULTS: Only 38% of patients were adherent to AT. Experiencing side effects was related to nonadherence (P=0.02). Only 29% of patients were adherent to CISC. More intense voiding dysfunction (P<0.001), a higher frequency of CISC (P=0.03), and a higher EDSS score (P=0.02) were associated with better adherence. Conversely, the HAD score (P<0.001), depression (P<0.001), the persistence of spontaneous micturition (P<0.001), a blocking sensation during catheterization (P=0.04), and the need to adapt one's posture or gesture to perform catheterization (P=0.04) were associated with poorer adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to AT and CISC was poor in patients with MS suffering from bladder dysfunction. Several factors related to nonadherence were identified in this study, and addressing these factors might help to improve treatment adherence.
Anxiety ; Botulinum Toxins ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Compliance ; Depression ; Gestures ; Humans ; Intermittent Urethral Catheterization ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Posture ; Prescriptions ; Prospective Studies ; Sensation ; Urinary Bladder ; Urination

PURPOSE: To characterize the course of treatment for nonmonosymptomatic enuresis with overactive bladder (OAB) in a real clinical setting. METHODS: Data from 111 OAB patients with moderate to severe enuresis were analyzed. The baseline analysis included a questionnaire, voiding diary, uroflowmetry with postvoid residual urine measurement, and plain abdominal radiography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB). Following standard urotherapy for 1 month, anticholinergic medication was administered with or without laxatives. Desmopressin was added if there was a partial response to OAB. Patients were followed every 3 months to evaluate the status of OAB and enuresis. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors associated with the lack of complete response (CR) in enuresis at 12 months. RESULTS: Following 12 months of treatment, 64% and 88% of patients experienced at least partial response in enuresis and OAB, respectively. Urgency improved more quickly than enuresis, supporting the need to address daytime symptoms before enuresis. Seventy-nine patients (71%) had fecal impaction on KUB and/or subjective constipation. The combination of anticholinergics with either laxatives or desmopressin fared better than anticholinergics alone. Daytime incontinence and anticholinergics-only treatment were associated with a lack of CR during 12 months of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The data confirmed the validity of addressing OAB before treating enuresis. The results of this study also highlight the need to address fecal impaction. Patients should be counseled about the need for a prolonged course of treatment before starting treatment. Anticholinergics should be accompanied with either desmopressin or laxatives for better control of enuresis.
Cholinergic Antagonists ; Constipation ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; Enuresis* ; Fecal Impaction ; Humans ; Kidney ; Laxatives ; Multivariate Analysis ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive*

Bronchodilators provide improvements in lung function and reductions in symptoms and exacerbations, and are the mainstay of pharmacological management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease strategy recommends the use of a combination of long-acting β₂-agonist/long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LABA/LAMA) as the first-line treatment option in the majority of symptomatic patients with COPD. This review provides an indirect comparison of available LABA/LAMA fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) through discussion of important efficacy and safety data from the key literature, with the objective of providing physicians with a framework for informed decision-making. LABA/LAMA FDCs provided greater benefits compared with placebo and similar or greater benefits compared with tiotropium and salmeterol/fluticasone in improving lung function, dyspnea, health-related quality of life, reducing rescue medication use and preventing exacerbations, although with some variability in efficacy between individual FDCs; further, tolerability profiles were comparable among LABA/LAMA FDCs. However, there is a disparity in the amount of evidence generated for different LABA/LAMA FDCs. Thus, this review shows that all LABA/LAMA FDCs may not be the same and that care should be taken when extrapolating individual treatment outcomes to the entire drug class. It is important that physicians consider the efficacy gradient that exists among LABA/LAMA FDCs, and factors such as inhaler devices and potential biomarkers, when choosing the optimal bronchodilator treatment for long-term management of patients with COPD.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biomarkers ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Disease Management ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Muscarinic Antagonists* ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Quality of Life ; Tiotropium Bromide