Urinary retention triggered by dimenhydrinate: A case report

The antihistamine dimenhydrinate as the trigger of acute urinary retention has not been reported. A 35-year-old female with a long-term history of depression treated with sertraline (150 mg/d) since years developed acute urinary retention after having received 100 mg dimenhydrinate intravenously for excessive, postural vertigo. Urinary retention required placement of a disposable catheter, which halted 1.6 liter of urine. Since urinary retention persisted, she received a permanent catheter, which initially halted another 1.2 liter of urine. Urinary retention resolved spontaneously within 48 hours, and the patient was discharged with her previous medication. This case shows that intravenous dimenhydrinate can trigger the development of acute urinary retention in patients under long-term treatment with sertraline, which is why it should be given with caution in this group of patients.