Internal Medicine: Bladder control medications

Bladder control medications

Internal Medicine: Bladder control medications

For those who suffer from bladder control issues and bladder infections there are many medications that will help. You must first get a diagnosis before you can begin treatment is any kind. Incontinence is commonly caused by a bladder infection and treatments are easy to get and take. There are also medicines that are formulated to increase the person's ability to tighten the bladder sphincter.

Bladder infections may be caused by a blockage such as kidney stones, bladder stones, enlarged prostates, or catheter insertions. It is much easier for bacteria to come in contact with the female urinary system, making them much more common in them than men.

Bladder infections are usually cured by special antibiotics that are designed to kill the infecting bacteria and must be administered for one to two weeks. Those suffering from chronic infections may require a longer treatment time, but it is important to finish the necessary treatment in order to prevent the recurrence of infection. Those suffering from a bladder infection will usually be put on a 6 month treatment plan which includes low doses of antibiotics such as TMP/SMZ or nitrofurantoin.

The medical industry recognizes two main types of urinary incontinence including stress incontinence and urge incontinence. The type of treatment will depend on the type of bladder problems you have. Stress incontinence involves the lack of tone to the bladder sphincter. Exercise activity or even a rough cough can lead to urine leaking passed the sphincter. Medicines such as the alpha adrenergic agonist family help the urinary sphincter keep its tone and give it more strength.

There are other medicines that work by getting rid of the urge incontinence where the bladder contracts involuntarily and causes the loss of bladder control and the release of large amounts of urine. These medications include oxybutynin, calcium channel blockers and tricyclic antidepressants which all are used to calm the involuntary contractions.

Sometimes older children who are suffering from bedwetting can be prescribed tricyclic antidepressants. You should always watch your children closely for any side effects or changes in mood and eating habits. Another medication prescribed to reduce nighttime urine production is Desmopresin.

Women who are both postmenopausal and suffering from bladder control problems can try a new estrogen therapy. It is known that the hormone estrogen plays a significant role in maintaining the strength and tone of the pelvic floor muscles in women. Menopause along with the reduction of the body's estrogen levels can cause the pelvic muscle to become weakened. Estrogen therapy can be helpful in reversing this natural process.

Article provided by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - a site dedicated to different health related topics. Read more about bladder control medications.