Venlafaxine is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor widely used for the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety disorders, as well as a number of other psychiatric conditions for which serotonergic antidepressants are often employed. Although urinary incontinence is listed as one side effect of these drugs, there are few reports in the literature.

To present a case report of venlafaxine-induced urinary incontinence and a review study regarding the theme with articles available in Medline.

A case report is presented in sequential detail and literature review of this theme shortly reviewed.

A 56-years-old caucasian man, average weight, with no prior medical or substance use history, with personality disorder and comorbid depression. This subject had his medication dosages increased from venlafaxine 150 mg/day to venlafaxine 225 mg/day; almost immediately he reported an increase in the urinary frequency, urge and incontinence. These clinical features remitted 72 hours after the dose was decreased to 150 mg/day. Animals studies suggest that incontinence secondary to serotonergic antidepressants could be mediated by the 5HT4 receptors found on the bladder. Further research is needed to delineate the frequency of this side effect and how best to treat it.

Urinary incontinence is an important medical condition with clinical and social implications. Clinicians who prescribe venlafaxine or other serotonergic antidepressants should be aware of the potential development of incontinence and need to query patients, particularly those at highest risk, with direct questions about this potential adverse effect.