Category: Airway Management
Keywords: back pain, urinary retention, CES (PubMed Search)
Posted: 1/11/2020 by Brian Corwell, MD
(Updated: 11/21/2024)
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD
Known effects and side effects of prescribed medicines may masquerade as cauda equina syndrome (CES) .
Analgesic medicines used by patients with chronic back pain may also cloud the diagnosis of CES.
Cholinergic medications (glaucoma/myasthenia) may lead to voiding issues.
Anticholinergic medications (COPD/urinary incontinence) may lead to urinary retention.
Opioids – Constipation, reduced bladder sensation
Anticonvulsants (Gabapentin/Pregabalin)- Urinary incontinence
Antidepressants (Amitriptyline) – Urinary retention, sexual dysfunction, reduced awareness of need to pass urine
NSAIDs – Urinary retention.
Verhamme KM, et al. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and increased risk of acute urinary retention. Arch Intern Med. 2005:165;1547-1551.