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Elizabeth Kavaler

All articles from this author are listed below.

Volume 15, Number 3 Review Articles

Use of Herbal Supplements for Overactive Bladder

Management Update

Steven A Kaplan Richard Lee Bilal Chughtai Alexis E Te Elizabeth Kavaler Franklin C Lowe

Anticholinergics, specifically antimuscarinic agents, are the most common medications prescribed for overactive bladder (OAB). The most common side effects of these agents are dry mouth and constipation, although other more concerning effects include changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, or heart rhythm when treatment is initiated. Herbal treatments are an increasingly popular alternative for treating OAB. A 2002 survey of US adults aged ≥ 18 years conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that 74.6% of those with OAB had used some form of complementary and alternative medicine. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the world’s population presently uses herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. Women were more likely than men to use complementary and alternative medicine. The authors review the most commonly used herbal medications for OAB. [Rev Urol. 2013;15(3):93-96 doi: 10.3909/riu0587] © 2013 MedReviews®, LLC

Overactive bladder Herbal medicine Gosha-jinki-gan Hachi-mi-jio-gan Buchu (Barosma betuline)Cleavers (Galium aparine)Cornsilk (Zea mays)Horsetail (Equisetum)Ganoderma lucidum Resinferatoxin Capsaicin