Twenty-five women with stress incontinence of urine were given an alpha-adrenoceptor stimulating agent (norephedrine) and a placebo during respective 14-day periods according to a double-blind cross-over schedule. The results were classified as the patient's own assessment of therapeutic effect and as change in urethral closure pressure profile measured by a microtransducer catheter. Norephedrine had a significant therapeutic effect on the symptom stress incontinence and produced significant increase in maximum urethral pressure and maximum urethral closure pressure in the lithotomy and the erect position. Reduction of incontinence was associated with increase in maximum urethral closure pressure. The sum therapeutic effect was of moderate degree.