New England Journal of Medicine · 2012
ABC
Anticholinergic versus Botulinum Toxin Comparison

Anticholinergic Therapy vs. OnabotulinumtoxinA for Urgency Urinary Incontinence

Visco AG, Brubaker L, Richter HE, Nygaard I, Paraiso MFR, et al. · Pelvic Floor Disorders Network
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1208872 · NCT01166438
Design
RCT (DB, DP)
Patients
249
Sites
10 US centers
Follow-up
6 months
Completion
93%
Randomized Arms
Arm A · n = 127
Anticholinergic
Solifenacin 5 mg (escalation to 10 mg, then trospium XR 60 mg) + saline injection
Arm B · n = 122
OnabotulinumtoxinA
100 U intradetrusor injection + oral placebo
Double-blind, double-placebo design — participants in the anticholinergic group received saline injection, and participants in the Botox group received oral placebo. After treatment cessation at 6 months, Botox showed longer duration of effect (38% vs 25% adequate control at 12 months).
Primary Outcome: UUI Episode Reduction
−3.4
Anticholinergic
episodes/day reduction
−3.3
OnabotulinumtoxinA
episodes/day reduction
P = 0.81
No significant difference
from baseline avg 5.0/day
Key Secondary Outcomes
Complete UUI Resolution
Antichol.
13%
Botox
27%
P = 0.003
Complete All Incontinence Resolution
Antichol.
11%
Botox
23%
P = 0.003
≥75% UUI Reduction
Antichol.
40%
Botox
54%
P = 0.06
Adverse Events
Higher with Anticholinergic
Dry mouth: 46% vs 31% (P=0.02)
Constipation: 28% vs 21% (P=0.06)
Higher with OnabotulinumtoxinA
UTI: 33% vs 13% (P<0.001)
Self-catheterization at 2 mo: 12% vs 2% (P=0.002)
PVR >150 mL at 1 mo: 27% vs 5% (P<0.001)
Clinical Bottom Line

Anticholinergic therapy and onabotulinumtoxinA 100 U produce equivalent reductions in UUI episodes, supporting Botox as a reasonable alternative to anticholinergics rather than exclusively a third-line option. The tradeoff: dry mouth (anticholinergics) versus UTI and catheterization risk (Botox). Botox achieves more complete continence (27% vs 13%).