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MEDICATIONS FOR BLADDER & BOWEL HEALTH

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MEDICATIONS FOR BLADDER AND BOWEL HEALTH

Your physician may prescribe medication for bladder and bowel health incontinence issues as a first form of treatment. These specifically designed drugs may be used alone or in combination with behavioral and exercise treatments. Below are some common medications created to help with a specific type of incontinence.

OVERACTIVE BLADDER AND URGENCY INCONTINENCE

These medications calm bladder muscles, reducing incidence of overactive bladder:

  • Ditropan® (oxynutynin) *transdermal/patch

  • Detrol® (tolterodine)

  • Detrol LA® (tolterodine)

  • Enablex® (darifencacin)

  • VESIcare® (solifenacin)

  • Sanctura® (trospium chloride)

  • Sanctura XR® (trospium chloride extended release)

  • Toviaz® (feosterodine fumarte)

  • Gelnique® (oxybutynin chloride) *topical gel

  • Myrbetriq® (mirabegron)

  • Botox® (onabotulinumtoxinA) *injection

  • Oxytrol® (oxybutynin transdermal system)

Click here to download a complete and detailed list of the brand name and generic medications used for treating overactive bladder and urgency incontinence.

STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE

These drugs help tighten up the bladder outlet muscle:

  • Tofranil® (imipramine)

  • Sudafed® (pseudophedrine)

ACCIDENTAL BOWEL LEAKAGE (ABL)/BOWEL INCONTINENCE

Medications designed to help control diarrhea:

  • Imodium® (Ioperamide)

  • Lomotil® (diphenoxylate with atropine)

  • Nulev® (hyoscyamine sulfate)

  • Lotronex® (alosetron) *for women only/IBS predominant

BENIGN PROSTRATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH)/NOCTURIA

  • Flomax® (tamsulosin)

  • Uroxatra®l (alfuzosin hydrochloride)

  • Rapaflo® (silodosin)

  • Proscar® (finasteride)

  • Avodart® (dutasteride)

  • Cialis® (tadalafil)

  • Xiaflex® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum)

URINARY RETENTION

  • Duvoid® (bethancechol)

  • Urecholine® (bethancechol)

POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

These drugs help improve the condition of the vagina and urethral lining due to a decrease in female hormones after menopause.

  • Estrace® (estrogen)
  • Estring® (estrodiol vaginal ring)
  • Vagifem® (estrodiol vaginal tablets)

OVERFLOW INCONTINENCE

Overflow incontinence is a more rare type of incontinence that may be caused by an underactive bladder muscle, a decrease in bladder muscle tone, or restricted urine flow from an enlarged prostate in males. These drugs stimulate the bladder muscle, relax the sphincter, or shrink the prostate to allow unrestricted urine flow.

  • Hytrin® (terazosin)

  • Cardura® (terazosin)

  • Uroxatral® (alfuzosin)

  • Proscar® (finasteride)

BEDWETTING

Bedwetting may occur when too much urine is produced. These drugs work by decreasing bladder contractions, tightening the sphincter muscle or decreasing urine production.

  • Tofranil® (imipramine)

  • DDAVP® nasal spray (desomopressin)

PEYRONIE’S DISEASE

  • Verapamil® (calcium channel blocker)

  • Interferon

  • Xiaflex®(collagenase clostridium histolyticum)

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE/FLUID RETENTION

  • Lasix® (furosemide)

  • Bumex® (bumetanide)

URINARY TRACT INFECTION

  • Sudden onset of urine leakage can be caused by bacteria or urinary tract infections. Antibiotics can be prescribed by your doctor to cure infections that cause leakage.

Talk with your doctor about what, if any, medication may be right for your specific condition. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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