Darifenacin, marketed under the brand names Enablex or Emselex, is a safe and effective treatment for overactive bladder, according to a new report.

The original trials involved a total of 1059 adults, who were randomly assigned to receive once-daily treatment with darifenacin at a dose of 7.5 or 15 milligrams, or an inactive placebo, for 12 weeks.

At either dose, darifenacin led to a significant reduction in weekly incontinence episodes compared to placebo, Dr. Christopher Chapple, from Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, UK, and colleagues report in the British Journal of Urology International.

Urinary incontinence Definition

Incontinence is the inability to control the passage of urine. This can range from an occasional leakage of urine, to a complete inability to hold any urine.
The two main types of urinary incontinence are:

 
• Stress incontinence - occurs during certain activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise.  
• Urge incontinence - involves a strong, sudden need to urinate followed by instant bladder contraction and involuntary loss of urine. You don’t have enough time between when you recognize the need to urinate and when you actually do urinate.

Darifenacin also reduced the frequency and severity of urgency, cut the number of significant leaks, and increased bladder capacity, the team found.

Dry mouth and constipation were the most common side effects seen with darifenacin, but neither were bad enough to cause many people to discontinue taking the drug, the researchers state.

The results indicate that darifenacin can safely control the debilitating symptoms seen with overactive bladder, Chapple’s team concludes.

SOURCE: BJU International, May 2005.