Olanzapine-Induced Urinary Incontinence: Treatment With Ephedrine

Letter to the Editor

Sir: We previously reported using ephedrine to successfully treat clozapine-induced urinary incontinence in a population of patients with treatment-refractory schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder (DSM-IV). It was postulated that the anti-α-adrenergic effects of clozapine were involved and that an α-adrenergic agonist (ephedrine) would reduce urinary incontinence. A transient, dose-related urinary incontinence has also been noted to occur in schizophrenic patients beginning treatment with risperidone. Atypical antipsychotics are used to treat a wide range of populations. In addition to treating schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, they are increasingly being used in conjunction with mood stabilizers to control psychotic inpatients with bipolar disorder. The following case report describes a patient with bipolar disorder who was treated with olanzapine and then developed urinary incontinence, which was successfully treated with ephedrine.