About Incontinence - Treatment / Management Options - Medications for Overactive Bladder (OAB)
Medical Reviewer:
Tamara Dickinson, RN, CURN, CCCN, BCIA-PMDB
All pharmaceutical medications currently available on the U.S. market for the treatment of incontinence are specifically for a condition called overactive bladder, or OAB. You may have seen advertisements on television or in magazines for these medications. The medications for overactive bladder block, to some extent, the nerves that cause the bladder to spasm and contract, reducing the frequency and severity of the overwhelming urge to urinate.
Who?
These medications are for individuals with overactive bladder. There are some side affects associated with the medications that affect some people more than others - however, the side effects differ amongst the specific drugs (so, while you may not like the side effects of one medication, you may find another OAB drug doesn't have that affect on you). The most common side effects include constipation, dry mouth and dry eyes. Many doctors recommend that individuals with overactive bladder try a medication to see if they are affected by the side effects. If you ever want to stop a prescribed medication, it is important that you first speak with your doctor about that decision.
The Pros
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Taking medication is not an invasive treatment, and one that can be stopped at any time (with your doctor's knowledge) if you don't like the results.
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Many people find great success taking a medication.
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There are many different medications available, so if one doesn't seem to work, or has adverse side effects, your doctor may be able to recommend and prescribe a different medication that might work better for you.
The Cons
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The medications are not a "cure" - they will only help the incontinence and urgency for as long as you take the medication.
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There are side effects associated with many of the medications.
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There is the ongoing cost of paying for a prescription each month.
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In many cases the medication will reduce your leakage and/or the extreme urgency to urinate, but may not stop it completely, so you may still need to use some protection.
Tips and Tricks
There are many medications available for overactive bladder, and they each work slightly differently and have slightly different side effects. If you're unhappy with the medication you are taking, it's important to speak with your doctor. He or she can advise if you're taking the medication correctly, in the right dosage, and if you've tried it long enough to see the effects. If your doctor knows what the problem is, he or she may be able to recommend a different medication that may provide you with better results.
Tamara Dickinson, RN, CURN, CCCN, BCIA-PMDB, is a nationally and internationally recognized authority in urodynamics, incontinence, voiding dysfunction, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Ms. Dickinson is board certified in urology nursing and continence nursing and is certified in biofeedback for pelvic muscle dysfunction.
With 15 years in the field, Ms. Dickinson is experienced in pelvic floor therapy including biofeedback and neurogenic voiding dysfunction, as well as other pelvic floor and continence therapies such as sacral neuromodulation and pessaries. She is a frequent national presenter on these topics.
Ms. Dickinson is the Senior Research Nurse in Continence and Voiding Dysfunction in the Department of Urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas , TX . She is the Immediate Past President of the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA), a professional organization committed to excellence in clinical practice and research through education of its members, patients, family and community. She is also a member of the Continence Promotion Committee and the School of Urodynamics of the International Continence Society.
Ms. Dickinson is a recipient of the SUNA President’s Trophy for outstanding contributions to the association. She also received the Past President’s Lectureship Award at the 2006 SUNA Annual Conference.
Page last modified 26 July 2009