Medicine for Incontinence

Incontinence is the involuntary release of urine from the bladder. The loss of bladder control may be an occasional minor leak or the frequent wetting of clothes. Medicine is available for the treatment of incontinence.

Types

• The three most common types of incontinence are stress incontinence, caused by weak muscles surrounding the opening of the urethra; overflow incontinence, caused by decreased sensation in the bladder; and urge incontinence, caused by uncontrolled bladder contractions.

Desmopressin

• The synthetic hormone Desmopressin is commonly prescribed to treat bed-wetting in children; it works by reducing the production of urine.

Estrogen

• Estrogen is prescribed for women in the form of a vaginal cream, patch or ring. Estrogen helps reduce tissue deterioration in the urethra and vaginal area.

Anticholinergics

• Anticholinergic drugs are used for treating overactive bladder; they block a chemical messenger that triggers contractions. These drugs include Detrol, Toviaz, Vesicare and Enablex.

Imipramine

• Imipramine is prescribed to treat both urge and stress incontinence. It works by relaxing the bladder muscle, which causes the contraction of the bladder neck.

New therapy

• According to the Mayo Clinic, new drugs and therapies are being researched. An injection of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) may benefit people who have an overactive bladder by paralyzing the bladder muscle.