Before prescribing solifenacin for a 55-year-old woman with overactive bladder, the physician reviews her history. Which coexisting condition is a specific contraindication to antimuscarinic therapy?

• A Narrow angle glaucoma ✓
• B Controlled hypertension
• C Hypothyroidism
• D Osteoarthritis

Explanation

Antimuscarinics block muscarinic receptors throughout the body. In the eye they relax the ciliary muscle and dilate the pupil, which can precipitate acute angle closure in eyes with a shallow anterior chamber. Narrow angle glaucoma is therefore a recognized contraindication, along with urinary retention and significant gastric outlet obstruction. Hypertension, hypothyroidism and osteoarthritis do not interact with muscarinic blockade.

Reference: Katzung's Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 16th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.