Alternative medicine (2)
- Hypnosis
- Acupuncture
Lifestyle and home remedies (3)
- Bladder control problems in women: Lifestyle strategies for relief
- Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet
- Kegel exercises for men: Understand the benefits
Prevention (1)
- Kegel exercises: A how-to guide for women
Risk factors (1)
- Aging: What to expect
Symptoms (1)
- Symptom Checker
Tests and diagnosis (2)
- Cystoscopy
- Urinalysis
Treatments and drugs (4)
- Bladder control problems in women: Seek treatment
- Bladder control problems: Medications for treating urinary incontinence
- Urinary incontinence: Incontinence products to help keep you dry
- see all in Treatments and drugs
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continued:
Bladder control problems: Medications for treating urinary incontinence
Newer therapies
Researchers are looking into new drugs and therapies, including onabotulinumtoxin type A (Botox).
Onabotulinumtoxin type A (Botox). Injections of Botox into the bladder muscle may benefit people who have an overactive bladder. Botox blocks the actions of acetylcholine and paralyzes the bladder muscle.
Studies have found that Botox significantly improves symptoms of incontinence and causes few side effects. Some studies indicate it may increase urinary tract infections, but the data aren't conclusive. Benefits can last up to nine months. Botox may be helpful for people who haven't responded to other medications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved this drug for incontinence, so it may not be covered by some insurance.
The FDA warns that adverse reactions including respiratory arrest and death may occur after the use of Botox for both approved and unapproved uses.
See your doctor
When talking to your doctor, carefully review all the medications you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs or herbal remedies. Some medications increase bladder control problems. Others may interact with incontinence medications in a way that increases symptoms. Your doctor can help you decide if you need medicine to treat your bladder control problem and, if so, which one may be best for you.
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- Non-surgical treatments for female stress urinary incontinence. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/types-of-incontinence/stress-incontinence/non-surgical-treatment-for-female-stress-urinary-incontinence. Accessed June 9, 2011.
- What every woman should know. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/what-is-incontinence/what-every-woman-should-know. Accessed June 9, 2011.
- Dmochowski R, et al. Efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA for idiopathic overactive bladder: A double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized, dose ranging trial. The Journal of Urology. 2010;184:2416.
- Medications. National Association for Continence. http://www.nafc.org/bladder-bowel-health/types-of-incontinence/urge-incontinence/medications. Accessed June 9, 2011.
- DuBeau CE. Treatment of urinary incontinence. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 10, 2011.
- Mahajan ST. Use of botulinum toxin for treatment of non-neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 10, 2011.
- Murphy AM, et al. Clinical trials report: Low-dose oral desmopressin for nocturia. Current Urology Reports. 2011;185:219.
- Pettit PD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. July 13, 2011.
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