Bethanechol

Bethanechol is used to relieve difficulties in urinating caused by surgery, drugs, or other factors. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Bethanechol comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Bethanechol usually is taken two to four times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take bethanechol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Bethanechol usually is taken at evenly spaced intervals during the day. Take this medication on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals) to prevent stomach upset.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Bethanechol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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upset stomach</li>
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vomiting</li>
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dizziness</li>
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sweating or flushing</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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shortness of breath</li>
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fainting</li>
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slow heart rate (pulse less than 50 beats per minute)</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking bethanechol, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to bethanechol or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially procainamide (Pronestyl), quinidine (Quinaglute), medications for colds or nasal congestion, and vitamins. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma, a bladder infection, epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, an overactive thyroid gland, or ulcers. you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you. remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.