Urinary incontinence often occurs in men and women after the age of 50. But this is not always an age condition, sometimes it can be caused by diseases, stresses, other causes. In rare cases, it occurs when coughing. Nighttime incontinence is typical for children and sex does not play any role here.
Statistics show that incontinence, in most cases, affects women. Kegel exercises can help cope with this condition – they strengthen the pelvic muscles. Physiotherapy is also great for these purposes, it improves blood circulation, makes ligaments more elastic. The doctor may prescribe warming and microcurrents.
Incontinence Medications
Before you begin treatment, it is important to understand what exactly causes such a condition. You should try to cope with it with the help of a psychologist. If certain behaviors and exercises do not help, doctors prescribe pills.
Urinary incontinence drugs can be divided into several categories:
- Antidepressants;
- Nootropics;
- Sedatives;
- Antispasmodics;
- M holinoblokators;
- Estrogen;
- Adrenomimetics;
- Analogues of vasopressin.
Often there is also mixed incontinence, in which there are signs of urgent and stressful forms.
Most often, the drugs are effective in case of urgent and mixed forms of incontinence, enuresis, less often – in cases of stress.
My Canadian Pharmacy will review each group of drugs in more detail.
M holinoblokators
Substances of this type affect the bladder M-cholinergic receptors. Cholinolytics help reduce the tone and relaxation of the muscles of the bladder, increasing its available volume. They are effective with urgent incontinence. M holinoblokators reduce the frequency and urgency of urination. The bladder is less likely to overflow, therefore, the frequency of urges decreases. Popular holin blockers are based on tolterodine. The course of treatment with drugs of this series lasts at least a month. The composition of such drugs may include other substances – solifenacin, darifenacin. The effect of these drugs may be noticeable after a week. Contraindications include pregnancy, narrowing of the ureters, bladder stones.
Antispasmodics
Antispasmodics have a similar application to anticholinergic blockers. They fight spasms of the muscles of the bladder, its increased excitability. They reduce urination instability and the number of urges. Antispasmodics are indicated in mixed and urgent forms of incontinence. Such drugs are usually based on trospiya chloride, mirabegron, oxybutynin.
Antidepressants, nootropics and sedatives
The mechanism of urination is regulated by the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, neurological and mental disorders can disrupt this mechanism. Some antidepressants, sedatives and nootropic drugs can help treat incontinences of a neurogenic and psychogenic nature. Antidepressants for incontinence include imipramine, duloxetine, and melipramine. Nootropics have an auxiliary effect, strengthening the nervous system. Sedatives and tranquilizers relieve nervous tension, normalize sleep. Antidepressants should not be taken in case of hypertension, pregnancy, liver disease, glaucoma. Also, antidepressants often cause side effects, such as seizures, and can adversely affect the condition of the heart, liver and blood.
Hormonal drugs
The doctor may prescribe analogs of female hormones if incontinence is caused by the lack of these hormones in the body. This is due to age-related changes in women during menopause. Lack of estrogen leads to weakness of the pelvic muscles, supporting the urethra and bladder neck in the desired position. Hormonal drugs for the treatment of incontinence (stress-type incontinence) are usually based on estriol. They can be used in the form of tablets and vaginal suppositories. Many urologists, however, question the effectiveness of hormones in incontinence in women.
Adrenomimetics
These drugs are synthetic analogues of adrenaline and affect the alpha-adrenergic receptors of the bladder neck, help to increase its tone. Adrenomimetic drugs are prescribed for stress-induced incontinence. However, the effect of their use is not always observed. Popular drugs in this group include midodrin, ephedrine.
Vasopressin analogs
Vasopressin is a hormone that determines the amount of urine produced in the body. Increased blood levels of vasopressin leads to the fact that urine is produced in a smaller volume. This property of vasopressin is used in preparations containing a vasopressin analog (desmopressin). Desmopressin is usually used in cases of increased nighttime urination and nocturnal enuresis.
7 Best Incontinence Pills
My Canadian Pharmacy describes some popular drugs used in incontinence. Most of them are available in the form of tablets or capsules. These dosage forms are very convenient for oral administration. Of course, in order to get the best effect, you must adhere to the doctor’s recommendations.
Detrol
Detrol is available in capsules containing tolterodine as an active substance. This medicine belongs to the class of M holinoblokators. The drug helps to relax the muscles of the bladder, increasing its available volume. The medicine must be taken once a day. Meals do not affect its effectiveness. Contraindications: age over 18 years, urination, ulcerative colitis, megacolon.
VESIcare
The active ingredient of VESIcare is solifenacin. The drug belongs to the class of holinoblokators of a new generation. It is prescribed for urge incontinence, the drug promotes bladder relaxation. Take 5 mg of VESIcare once a day; if necessary, the dose can be reduced to 10 mg. The product is contraindicated in urinary retention, severe renal failure, in childhood (up to 18 years).
Sanctura
The composition of Sanctura includes trospium chloride. The drug is indicated for mixed and urgent types of incontinence, spasms of the bladder and its increased excitability. The average daily dose is 45 mg. Tablets can be taken only before meals. Contraindications: age up to 14 years, urinary retention, tachycardia, severe renal failure.
Tofranil
Tofranil (Imipramine) is a tricyclic antidepressant. The drug is able to normalize the work of the urinary tract. It is especially effective for nocturnal enuresis when urine is released involuntarily. The course of drug treatment may last for several months. The dosage is determined by the doctor. Usually, a patient should take 1-3 tablets per day (at bedtime). The drug is contraindicated in children under 6 years of age, in dysfunctions of the liver, kidneys, hematopoietic organs, heart failure and myocardial infarction, bladder atony.
Ovestin
Ovestin contains a natural analog of female sex hormones – estriol. The drug restores the mucous membranes of the urinary organs, improves their blood circulation, enhances their resistance to inflammation. The course of drug therapy lasts at least a month. Usually, a patient should take 2-4 tablets per day.
Minirin
Minirin contains desmopressin – a synthetic analog of vasopressin. The function of vasopressin in the body is the regulation of urination. Thanks to desmopressin, urine is excreted by the kidneys in a smaller volume. The medicine is often used for nocturnal enuresis. The dosage is individual and varies in the range of 10-40 mg per day. Minirin is taken only after a meal. Contraindications: severe thirst, anuria, heart failure, fluid retention, lack of sodium.
Midodrine
Midodrine is an alpha-adreno stimulator available in the form of tablets and solution for intravenous administration. Midodrine helps to improve the tone of the bladder sphincter. It is contraindicated in people with hypertension, vascular spasm. The standard dosage is 2.5 mg 2 times a day.
Drugs is a first-line treatment of incontinence. If you have only recently been diagnosed with incontinence, you should first try using conservative methods to treat it. However, My Canadian Pharmacy reminds you that medication is not the only way to treat incontinence. It is also important to follow a proper diet, perform physical exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, which will help restrain urine when urging to the toilet. In some cases, physiotherapy can help. You should also remember that medications cannot help instantly. Some drugs need to be taken for many years.