bethanechol-chloride

Description: Bethanechol Chloride (also known as Carbamyl-beta-methylcholine chloride) is a parasympathomimetic choline carbamate and an analog of acetylcholine with a long duration of action due to improved metabolic stability. Unlike acetylcholine, bethanechol is not hydrolyzed by cholinesterase. It has been used to treat certain bladder problems such as the inability to urinate or empty the bladder completely due to certain causes. It acts as a selective muscarinic receptor agonist without any effect on nicotinic receptors. Bethanechol alleviates dry mouth and is sometimes given orally or subcutaneously to treat urinary retention resulting from general anesthetic, diabetic neuropathy of the bladder, or a side effect of antidepressants; or to treat gastrointestinal lack of muscular tone.

References: Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2004; 97(2):190-5; J Clin Gastroenterol. 2007; 41(4):366-70.