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Treatments for Overactive Bladder

Treatments for an overactive bladder depends upon the cause of the condition. First, your doctor may suggest trying to schedule times for urination by controlling urination. Controlling urination may be achieved by strengthening pelvic floor muscles with the aid of Kegel exercises (to strengthen muscles that start and stop urine), Biofeedback to help identify appropriate muscles to strengthen, or electrical stimulation. You may also reduce the nuisance of an overactive bladder by refraining from drinking before bedtime and staying away from caffeine. There are a variety of drugs that may be available if the above strategies fail, including:      

  • Anticholinergic Drugs may work well, but certain people with glaucoma, urinary retention,  gastrointestinal disease or select other conditions may not be candidates for use of drugs in this classification.
  • Tofranil is another drug that may assist certain people with an overactive bladder that qualify.

When Anticholinergic Drugs do not resolve the issue and for those who are not candidates for Anticholinergic Drugs, some people may qualify for Botox®  treatment. Botox may be injected to treat overactive bladder symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency.

Special Considerations

  • According to study results, urination regularity may change following menopause for women due to the drop in estrogen. As such, select physicians may recommend estrogen therapy, but the outcome from this form of treatment has not been evaluated through research studies. 
  • Select physicians may treat men with alpha-blockers, a form of blood pressure medication. Yet, study results have not been conclusive to identify efficacy.
  • Research in the use Capsaicin for spinal cord injury victims that have an overactive bladder holds promise, but more research is required in this area.  
  • In rare severe cases, select physicians may recommend an implantable device that delivers tiny electrical pulses to the spine for bladder and muscle control. An alternative might be bladder augmentation surgery for those who qualify.  

It is important to recognize that diagnostic tests may not offer fully conclusive results about individual’s overall condition. In addition, all medical procedures are associated with benefits and risks that should be discussed with your physician. It is important to recognize that all information contained on this website cannot be considered to be specific medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or medical advice. As always, you should consult with a physician regarding any medical condition.