A 69-year-old man was hospitalized for exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease. Treatment with nebulized ipratropium bromide resulted in urinary retention that resolved once the drug was discontinued. Urinary retention is a rare complication of ipratropium bromide. Because all of the cases described in the literature occur in elderly men with prostate hypertrophy, the drug should be used cautiously in this group of patients.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
DeckersW. The chemistry of new derivatives of tropane alkaloids and the pharmacokinetics of a new quaternary compound. Postgrad Med J1975; 51 (suppl 7):76–81.
2.
LozewiczS. Bladder outflow obstruction induced by ipratropium bromide. Postgrad Med J1989; 65: 260–1.
3.
GrossJN. Ipratropium bromide. N Engl J Med1988; 319: 486–94.
4.
Ipratropium.Med Lett Drugs Ther1987; 29: 71–3.
5.
YeagerHJRWeinbergRMKaufmanLVKatzS. Asthma: Comparative bronchodilator effects of ipratropium bromide and isoproterenol. J Clin Pharmacol1976; 16: 198–204.
6.
GommSAKeaneyNPHuntLPAllenSCStrettonTB. Dose response comparison of ipratropium bromide from a metered-dose inhaler and by jet nebulisation. Thorax1983; 38: 297–301.
7.
The effects of long-term treatment with SCH1000 MDI (abstract). Postgrad Med J1975; 51 (suppl 7):130–4.
8.
KirkegaardJMygindNMolgaardFOrdinary and high dose ipratropium in perennial nonallergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol1987; 79: 585–90.
9.
MolkenboerJFWNLardenoyeJG. The effect of Atrovent in micturition function. Double blind cross-over study. Scand J Resp Dis1979; 103 (suppl):154–8.
