Burnakis T. Trospium chloride treatment of overactive bladder. Ann Pharmacother 2009;43(2):283–95

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a com-mon condition characterized by symptoms of urinary frequency and ur-gency, with or without urge incontinence and nocturia. It is typified by increased bladder muscle contraction during blad-der filling, resulting in an increased sense of urgency and, for some patients, involuntary urine loss. In both Europe and the US, OAB af-fects approximately one-sixth of all indi-viduals over 18 years of age. The esti-mated prevalence is 33 million US resi-dents; this increases with age in both sexes.1-3 The percentage of people affect-ed grows from around 9 % in the 18- to 29-year-old age group to more than 20% in those over 70 years. The true preva-lence of OAB is difficult to estimate be-cause many patients with bladder storage symptoms do not seek medical help.1 OAB has a detrimental effect on qual-ity of life and a profound impact on the physical, psychological, occupational, and social well-being of the affected in-dividual.4 The complications of OAB and urge incontinence include comor-bidities such as urinary tract infection, sleep disturbance, and an increased inci-dence of falls and fall-related fractures secondary to arising in the middle of the night to urinate.2,5 The economic burden of OAB is as-sociated with substantial direct and indi