Flavoxate is an anticholinergic

Anticholinergic

An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and the peripheral nervous system. An example of an anticholinergic is dicycloverine, and the classic example is atropine....

 with antimuscarinic effects. Its muscle relaxant

Muscle relaxant

A muscle relaxant is a drug which affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone. It may be used to alleviate symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, and hyperreflexia. The term "muscle relaxant" is used to refer to two major therapeutic groups: neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics...

 properties may be due to a direct action on the smooth muscle rather than by antagonizing muscarinic receptors.

Clinical uses

Flavoxate is used to treat urinary bladder spasms. It is available under the trade name Urispas (Paladin),Genurin (by Recordati, Italy) in Italy and KSA,Uritac by El Saad company in Syria, under the name Bladderon by Nippon Shinyaku of Japan, or Bladuril in Chile.

Flavoxate is indicated for symptomatic relief of interstitial cystitis

Interstitial cystitis

Interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome is a chronic, oftentimes severely debilitating disease of the urinary bladder...

, dysuria, urgency, nocturia, suprapubic pain, frequency and incontinence as may occur in cystitis, prostatitis, urethritis, urethrocystitis/urethrotrigonitis.

Side effects

Flavoxate is generally well tolerated, but can potentially cause, vomiting, upset stomach, dry mouth or throat, blurred vision, eye pain, and increased sensitivity of your eyes to light.

Contraindications

Flavoxate is contraindicated in patients who have any of the following obstructive conditions: pyloric or duodenal obstruction, obstructive intestinal lesions or ileus, achalasia, gastrointestinal hemorrhage and obstructive uropathies of the lower urinary tract.