A patient is administered bethanechol for urinary retention. The patient is most likely to complain of which of the following side effects?

Explanation

• Bethanechol is a muscarinic agonist given to treat urinary retention secondary to general anesthesia, neuropathy of the bladder, or GI atony. It increases the tone of the detrusor muscle, causes bladder contractions, increases gastric tone, and increases peristalsis.

• Side effects are caused by acetylcholine activation and include increased gastric acid secretion, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, belching, vomiting, increased salivation, and increased tear formation.

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