What Medication Is Advised for an Over Active Bladder?

Approximately 12.2 million Americans suffer from an overactive bladder or urge incontinence, according to the National Association for Continence. One common treatment for the discomfort and inconvenience associated with the symptoms of an overactive bladder is the use of prescription medications.

Identification

• The most commonly prescribed medications for overactive bladder are anticholinergic medicines and tricyclic antidepressants, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Function

• Anticholinergic medicines function by relaxing the muscles of your bladder, decreasing the urge to urinate. Tricyclic antidepressants mildly paralyze the muscles that control your bladder, which also causes relaxation of the organ.

Types of Drugs

• Anticholinergic medicines used to treat overactive bladder include oxybutynin, tolterodine, darifenacin, trospium and solifenacin. Some tricyclic antidepressants used for urge incontinence are imipramine and doxepin.

Time Frame

• Anticholinergic drugs can be taken once a day for a period of months or years to treat overactive bladder, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. When taken for a prolonged period of time, tricyclic antidepressants have the potential to cause diabetes, according to a 2009 study published by the American Psychiatric Association in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Side Effects

• Side effects from anticholinergic drugs include dry mouth or eyes and constipation. Tricyclic antidepressants have the potential to cause blurred vision, dizzines, dry mouth, fatigue, insomnia and nausea.

Considerations

• Sucking sugar-free hard candies or chewing sugar-free gum helps alleviate dry mouth in patients taking medications for overactive bladder, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Eye lubricant drops are also available to relieve dry eyes.