Bethanechol Chloride — uses, dosing, side effects & the brands that sell it · pharmaranks
Bethanechol Chloride: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Bethanechol Chloride is a cholinergic muscarinic agonist sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for drug-induced abnormalities, neurogenic urinary bladder and gastroesophageal reflux. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
By the pharmaranks editorial team·Reviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sources·How we research
Key facts
Drug class
Cholinergic Muscarinic Agonist
Treats
Drug-Induced Abnormalities, Neurogenic Urinary Bladder and Gastroesophageal Reflux
Available as
Tablet
Sold as
2 products — Bethanechol Chloride and Urecholine
Prescription?
Prescription only
Generic available?
Yes
How bethanechol chloride is dosed
From the FDA label for Bethanechol Chloride (application ANDA040509). Other bethanechol chloride products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Dosage must be individualized, depending on the type and severity of the condition to be treated. Preferably give the drug when the stomach is empty. If taken soon after eating, nausea and vomiting may occur. The usual adult oral dose ranges from 10 to 50 mg three or four times a day. The minimum effective dose is determined by giving 5 to 10 mg initially, and repeating the same amount at hourly intervals until satisfactory response occurs, or until a maximum of 50 mg has been given. The effects of the drug sometimes appear within 30 minutes, and are usually maximal within 60 to 90 minutes. The drug effects persist for about one hour. If necessary, the effects of the drug can be abolished promptly by atropine (see OVERDOSAGE ).
Bethanechol Chloride side effects
are rare following oral administration of bethanechol chloride, but are more common following subcutaneous injection. Adverse reactions are more likely to occur when dosage is increased. The following adverse reactions have been observed: Body as a Whole: malaise Digestive: abdominal cramps or discomfort, colicky pain, nausea and belching, diarrhea, borborygmi, salivation Renal: urinary urgency Nervous System: headache Cardiovascular: a fall in blood pressure with reflex tachycardia, vasomotor response Skin: flushing producing a feeling of warmth, sensation of heat about the face, sweating Respiratory: bronchial constriction, asthmatic attacks Special Senses : lacrimation, miosis Causal Relationship Unknown: The following adverse reactions have been reported, and a causal relationship to therapy with bethanechol chloride has not been established: Body as a Whole: malaise Nervous System: seizures To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Amneal Pharmaceuticals at 1-877-835-5472 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Who shouldn’t take bethanechol chloride
Hypersensitivity to bethanechol chloride, hyperthyroidism, peptic ulcer, latent or active bronchial asthma, pronounced bradycardia or hypotension, vasomotor instability, coronary artery disease, epilepsy and parkinsonism. Bethanechol chloride should not be employed when the strength or integrity of the gastrointestinal or bladder wall is in question, or in the presence of mechanical obstruction; when increased muscular activity of the gastrointestinal tract or urinary bladder might prove harmful, as following recent urinary bladder surgery, gastrointestinal resection and anastomosis, or when there is possible gastrointestinal obstruction; in bladder neck obstruction, spastic gastrointestinal disturbances, acute inflammatory lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, or peritonitis; or in marked vagotonia.
Every bethanechol chloride product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Bethanechol Chloride pill imprints
Imprint
Strength
Colour
Shape
Maker
AN;571
5 mg
white
round
—
AN;572
10 mg
white
round
—
AN;573
25 mg
yellow
round
—
AN;574
50 mg
yellow
round
—
BCL;5;832
5 mg
white
round
—
BCL;10;832
10 mg
Frequently asked questions
What is bethanechol chloride?
Bethanechol chloride, a cholinergic agent, is a synthetic ester which is structurally and pharmacologically related to acetylcholine. It is designated chemically as 2-[(aminocarbonyl) oxy]- N, N, N -trimethyl-1-propanaminium chloride. Its molecular formula is C 7 H 17 CIN 2 0 2 and its structural formula is: It is a white, hygroscopic crystalline powder having a slight amine-like odor, freely soluble in water, and has a molecular weight of 196.68. Each tablet for oral administration contains 5 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg or 50 mg bethanechol chloride, USP. Tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients: anhydrous lactose, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and sodium starch glycolate. The 25 mg and 50 mg tablets also contain D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake and FD&C Yellow #6 Aluminum Lake. 38055a93-figure-01
What kind of drug is bethanechol chloride?
The FDA classifies bethanechol chloride as a cholinergic muscarinic agonist. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take bethanechol chloride with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run bethanechol chloride against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is bethanechol chloride sold under?
We track 2 bethanechol chloride-containing products in the U.S.: Bethanechol Chloride and Urecholine. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does bethanechol chloride come in?
Across the brands we track, bethanechol chloride is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
white
round
—
BCL;25;832
25 mg
yellow
round
—
BCL;50;832
50 mg
yellow
round
—
934
5 mg
white
round
—
935
10 mg
white
round
—
936
25 mg
white
round
—
937
50 mg
white
round
—
Is there a generic bethanechol chloride?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic bethanechol chloride product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.