Bethanechol, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: cholinergic

Generic and brand names: bethanechol, oral; Duvoid; Urecholine

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to increase urination and to empty your bladder. It helps treat urinary and bladder problems.

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• breathing problems or lung disease such as asthma or COPD
• heart disease
• intestinal or urinary blockage
• low blood pressure
• Parkinson's disease
• seizures
• stomach ulcers
• thyroid problems.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How should I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take this medicine on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. If you take this medicine too soon after you eat, it may cause nausea or vomiting.

To avoid getting up at night to urinate, take the last dose of the day before 6 PM. This medicine usually acts within 1 hour, and the effects last for at least 1 hour.

What if I miss a dose?

If you are less than 1 hour late taking your medicine, take it as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if is more than 2 hours past your normal dosing time and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: stomach pain, mouth watering, flushing, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fast heartbeat, fainting, weakness, trouble breathing.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat, chest pain or tightness, seizures, stomach pain.

Other: Dizziness, sweating, stomach cramps, gas, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as quinidine and procainamide (Pronestyl)
• anticholinergic medicines such as benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), atropine sulfate, propantheline (Pro-Banthine), methscopolamine (Pamine), l-hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex), amantadine (Symmetrel), procyclidine (Kemadrin), and trihexyphenidyl
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril), meclizine (Antivert, Dramamine Less Drowsy), and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
• mecamylamine (Inversine)
• nitrates such as isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) and nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitrong, Nitro-Dur, Nitrol)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.