Abstract
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a syndrome with potentially debilitating effects characterized by urgency, usually accompanied by urinary frequency and nocturia, with or without urgency incontinence. The prevalence of OAB increases with age and some suggest it may be more common in women than men. Women with OAB are more likely to suffer from OAB with urgency incontinence, a symptom that can result in low self-esteem, depression and impaired sexual function. Trospium chloride is the only quaternary amine antimuscarinic approved in the USA and Europe for the treatment of OAB. Its distinct pharmacological properties distinguish it from other agents in this class, all of which are tertiary amines. These pharmacological properties may provide trospium chloride with salutary safety advantages.