Name a common anticholinergic medication used to manage urinary incontinence.

Study for the NCLEX Pharmacology Renal and Urinary Exam. Use quizzes and comprehensive questions with explanations to enhance learning. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Oxybutynin is a common anticholinergic medication specifically indicated for the management of urinary incontinence, particularly in cases of overactive bladder. It works by inhibiting acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors in the bladder, which reduces urinary urgency and frequency by relaxing the bladder muscle. This mechanism makes it effective in treating symptoms associated with overactive bladder and can help improve a patient's quality of life.

Other medications listed have different primary uses. For example, dicyclomine is primarily used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, not urinary incontinence. Tolterodine is another anticholinergic drug that also effectively manages urinary incontinence, but the question seeks a specific common medication, and oxybutynin is typically the first-line agent often associated with this use. Diphenhydramine, primarily an antihistamine, can cause anticholinergic effects but is not specifically indicated for urinary incontinence. Therefore, oxybutynin stands out as the most appropriate and commonly referenced anticholinergic for this condition.

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