C H A P T E R 5 2
Drugs affecting the urinary tract and the bladder
831
■■
Inflammation and irritation of the urinary tract
can cause smooth muscle spasms along the urinary
tract. These spasms lead to the uncomfortable effects
of dysuria, urgency, incontinence, nocturia and
suprapubic pain.
■■
The urinary tract antispasmodics act to relieve
spasms of the urinary tract muscles by blocking
parasympathetic activity and relaxing the detrusor
and other urinary tract muscles.
■■
Pentosan polysulfate sodium is a heparin-like
compound that has anticoagulant and fibrinolytic
effects and adheres to the bladder wall mucosal
membrane to act as a buffer to control cell
permeability. This action prevents irritating solutes
in the urine from reaching the cells of the bladder
wall. It is used specifically to decrease the pain and
discomfort associated with interstitial cystitis.
■■
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common
enlargement of the prostate gland in older men.
■■
Drugs frequently used to relieve the signs and
symptoms of prostate enlargement include alpha-
adrenergic blockers, which relax the sympathetic
effects on the bladder and sphincters, and finasteride
and dutasteride, which block the body’s production
of a powerful androgen. The prostate is dependent
on testosterone for its maintenance and development;
blocking the androgen leads to shrinkage of the gland
and relief of symptoms.
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ONLINE RESOURCES
An extensive range of additional resources to enhance teaching
and learning and to facilitate understanding of this chapter may
be found online at the text’s accompanying website, located on
thePoint at
These include Watch and
Learn videos, Concepts in Action animations, journal articles,
review questions, case studies, discussion topics and quizzes.
WEB LINKS
Healthcare providers and students may want to consult
the following Internet sources:
.
asp?pageCode=PROSTATEPROBLEMS
Andrology Australia information on benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH), support groups, research and
treatment for patients.
Home page of the Urological Society of Australia and
New Zealand.
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