Controlled double-blind trail of flavoxate in painful conditions of the lower urinary tract

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the antispasmodic flavoxate (600 mg. daily) was carried out in 60 patients suffering from painful conditions of the lower urinary tract arising from inflammation and/or infection or from spasm following diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Statistically significant improvement was noted in frequency and suprapubic pain, and marked relief was also afforded in dysuria, hesitancy and burning. Apart from dryness of the mouth, the incidence and type of side-effects reported were similar in both groups of patients and were probably not drug related. Fewer patients interrupted treatment with flavoxate because of inefficacy than in the placebo group, the difference being statistically significant.

Anticholinergic withdrawal and benzhexol treatment in Parkinson's disease

The effects of slow withdrawal of anticholinergic medication and addition of benzhexol (8 mg/day) have been studied in patients with Parkinson's disease on stable levodopa therapy. Withdrawal of anticholinergic drugs led to measurable and often severe deterioration in about two-thirds of patients. Addition of benzhexol produced a slight but definite additional improvement in those patients in whom anticholinergics were withdrawn before the trial. Anticholinergic drugs thus still have a part to play in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, for they produce benefit in addition to that provided by levodopa.