Urinary Incontinence Due to Overactive Detrusor Muscle: A Rare Side Effect of Venlafaxine
January 2015
in “
Case Reports in Urology
”
Studysummary This case report describes a 66-year-old male with benign prostatic hyperplasia who developed urinary incontinence after starting venlafaxine, which resolved upon discontinuation of the medication.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
This document reported a case of urinary incontinence (UI) in a 66-year-old male with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) after starting venlafaxine, an SNRI antidepressant. The patient, who had been stable on tamsulosin and finasteride for 6 years, developed UI within a week of initiating venlafaxine, which resolved after discontinuing the drug. The study suggested that venlafaxine might induce UI by affecting detrusor muscle contraction through serotonin receptor activation. Other medications the patient was taking were ruled out as causes, and the temporal relationship supported venlafaxine as the cause. The document highlighted the need for clinicians to be aware of this rare side effect and called for further research on SNRIs' effects on bladder function.
