Chapter 52 Drugs Affecting the Urinary Tract and Bladder Page 831

Urinary tract anti-infectives destroy bacteria in the urinary tract that could be causing
infections.
Urinary tract specific antibiotics prevent bacterial reproduction and cause bacterial cell
death.
Some urinary tract anti-infectives kill urinary tract bacteria by acidifying the urine,
making the tract a poor host for bacterial growth, or by killing the bacteria outright.
Hygiene measures, proper diet, and extra hydration are activities that help to decrease
harmful bacteria in the urinary tract, which promotes the effect of urinary tract antiinfective agents.
Smooth muscle spasms affecting the urinary tract may be caused by inflammation and
irritation; effects of the spasms include dysuria, urinary urgency, incontinence, nocturia,
and suprapubic pain.
Antispasmodics block parasympathetic activity, thereby relaxing detrusor and other
urinary tract muscles
Phenazopyridine is a urinary tract analgesic that is used to decrease bladder pain that
could result in changes in bladder function and emptying. This drug is a dye, and
patients need to be warned about changes in the color of urine and potential for staining
skin and clothing.
Pentosan is a bladder protectant. It is a heparin-like drug that protects the inner lining
of the bladder from irritation by solutes in the urine. Because it is a heparin-like drug, the
risk of bleeding must be considered.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common enlargement of the prostate gland in
older men.
Drugs frequently used to relieve the signs and symptoms of prostate enlargement
include alpha-adrenergic blockers, which relax the sympathetic effects on the bladder
and sphincters, and finasteride and dutasteride, which block the bodys production of a
powerful androgen. The prostate is dependent on testosterone for its maintenance and
development; blocking the androgen leads to shrinkage of the gland and relief of
symptoms.
CHAPTERSUMMARY
Urinary tract anti-infectives include two groups of drugs: antibiotics that are
particularly effective against gramnegative bacteria, and drugs that work to acidify the
urine, ultimately killing the bacteria that might be in the bladder.
Many activities are necessary to help decrease the bacteria in the urinary tract (e.g.,
hygiene measures, proper diet, forcing fluids) to facilitate the treatment of UTIs and help
the urinary tract anti-infectives be more effective.
Inflammation and irritation of the urinary tract can cause smooth muscle spasms along
the urinary tract. These spasms lead to the uncomfortable effects of dysuria, urgency,
incontinence, nocturia, and suprapubic pain.
The urinary tract antispasmodics act to relieve spasms of the urinary tract muscles by
blocking parasympathetic activity and relaxing the detrusor and other urinary tract
muscles.
The urinary tract analgesic phenazopyridine is used to provide relief of symptoms
(burning, urgency, frequency, pain, discomfort) related to urinary tract irritation resulting
from infection, trauma, or surgery.
Pentosan polysulfate sodium is a heparin-like compound that has anticoagulant and
fibrinolytic effects and adheres to the bladder wall mucosal membrane to act as a buffer
to control cell permeability. This action prevents irritating solutes in the urine from

reaching the cells of the bladder wall. It is used specifically to decrease the pain and
discomfort associated with interstitial cystitis.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common enlargement of the prostate gland in
older men.
Drugs frequently used to relieve the signs and symptoms of prostate enlargement
include alpha-adrenergic blockers, which relax the sympathetic effects on the bladder
and sphincters, and finasteride and dutasteride, which block the bodys production of a
powerful androgen. The prostate is dependent on testosterone for its maintenance and
development; blocking the androgen leads to shrinkage of the gland and relief of
symptoms