You’ve cut out soda and spicy food. Your working on your Kegel exercises. But incontinence is still a problem. When behavioral and diet changes aren’t enough, urinary and fecal incontinence can be treated with medication.
Before taking any medication for incontinence, it is important to speak to a physician. Certain medications can be a dangerous mask for a larger problem. Over-the-counter medications such as antacids and laxatives may, in fact, be making your bladder or bowel issues far worse. Consequently, if you are taking unrelated prescription medications, these could be irritating your bladder or bowel.
Fortunately, there are many forms of treatment for urinary and fecal incontinence including oral medications, patches, or creams.
What are common medications for Urinary Incontinence?
Common medications to treat bladder control problems include anticholinergics, mirabegron, topical estrogen, and alpha-blockers.
Anticholinergics
Anticholinergics are used to treat overactive bladder. They work by blocking the chemical messenger acetylcholine that sends the signal that you need to urinate to the brain.
Mirabegron
Mirabegron is used to relax bladder muscles so that the bladder can hold more urine. Additionally, it increases the amount that you can urinate, allowing you to empty your bladder more completely.
Topical estrogen
Women with incontinence may be prescribed a low-dose topical estrogen in the form of a ring or cream. This topical estrogen helps tone tissues and eliminate vaginal dryness.
Alpha blockers
Alpha blockers help men with urge and overflow incontinence due to prostate enlargement. They relax muscles to reduce a sense of urgency and improve urine flow, making it easier to fully empty the bladder. Some examples of Alpha blockers include Rapaflo, Cardura, and Flomax.
What are common medications for Bowel Incontinence?
Anti-diarrheal medication
When bowel incontinence is caused by loose stool, anti-diarrheal medication may be prescribed to help solidify stool.
Metamucil
Metamucil is a fiber supplement that is typically used as a stool-bulking agent. Bulking agents absorb water to make stool firmer and reduce leakage.
Before taking any medication to treat incontinence, it is important to speak to a physician. Taking the wrong medication can actually aggravate your incontinence, so it’s important to properly diagnose.
Medication for Incontinence in Middle Tennessee
The expert physicians at Incontinence Institute can help you pinpoint the source of your incontinence and determine the best method of treatment. Determining the source of your urinary or fecal incontinence symptoms will allow your physician a better understanding of your condition and how it can be effectively treated.
Contact the Incontinence Institute today to schedule a consultation.