Cholinesterase Inhibitor Induced Urinary Incontinence in Dementia:A Management Dilemma

Abstract

Cholinesterase inhibitors are effective pharmacological modality of treatment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Urinary incontinence is a relatively uncommon side effect of cholinesterase inhibitors. It is difficult to differentiate the incontinence as a result of progression of the neurodegenerative process of dementia or due to medications or due to underlying local pathology (age-related). It seems illogical to recommend anticholinergics, which are commonly recommended for treatment of urinary incontinence, in patients with dementia who have already acetylcholine-deprived brain. We here discuss the management dilemma of urinary incontinence in a patient with Alzheimer's disease with review of literature.