One of the ways of treating urinary incontinence is the use of medications, such as oxybutynin, tropium chloride, estrogen or imipramine, for example, prescribed by the doctor, as a way to reduce bladder contractions or improve the action of the sphincter of the urethra, decreasing episodes of involuntary loss of urine.
These drugs are only indicated in some cases, in which the benefits outweigh the risks, due to the contraindications they present and the side effects they can cause, such as dry mouth, dizziness, diarrhea or even urinary retention, being recommended when others forms of treatment, such as physical therapy exercises, are not enough.
Urinary incontinence is a common condition that can affect anyone, especially women over the age of 45, and causes uncomfortable symptoms such as loss of urine on clothing, which can arise after exertion or after a sudden urge to urinate, which can occur in little or large quantity. Better understand the symptoms, types and causes of urinary incontinence.
The medications that can be targeted to relieve urinary incontinence depend on their type, whether for women or men. Options include:
1. Stress urinary incontinence
This type of incontinence arises whenever an effort is made with the belly or pelvis, such as coughing, sneezing or carrying a weight, and arises mainly due to the weakening of the pelvis muscles, or changes in the position of the urethra or bladder.
- Estrogen: the use of estrogen, such as estradiol in the form of an ointment, patch or vaginal ring, can act by increasing the urethral closure pressure, blood flow and the quality of the tissue that lines the urethra and vagina, decreasing the chances of incontinence; Imipramine (Tofranil): is a type of antidepressant that is able to decrease the bladder contraction and increase the resistance of the urethra; Duloxetine (Cymbi, Velija): it is another type of antidepressant, which can have an effect on the nerves of the urethra, decreasing the frequency of incontinence.
It is important to remember that in stress incontinence, the main form of treatment is to perform pelvic floor physiotherapy, guided by trained physiotherapists, including therapies such as electrical stimulation or exercises for the muscles, which are essential to correctly treat this problem. Check out some exercises that can be done against urinary incontinence, in the following video:
In addition, surgery is an important alternative to correct changes in the musculature or positioning of the bladder and urethra, and should be considered whenever improvement is not achieved with the treatments performed.
2. Urgent urinary incontinence
This type of incontinence happens mainly due to anatomical and hormonal changes in aging. However, it can also appear in young people due to conditions such as cystitis, bladder stones or neurological changes, such as those caused by diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, stroke, brain tumors or spinal injuries, for example.
The main remedies used to treat this condition are medications that work by reducing involuntary bladder contraction and improving the action of the urethral sphincter, called antimuscarinics. Some of the most used are:
- Oxybutynin (Retemic, Incontinol); Tropium chloride (Spasmoplex); Solifenacin (Vesicare); Darifenacin (Fenazic); Imipramine (Tofranil, Depramine, Imipra, Mepramin).
These drugs should be used with caution, only with medical indication, as they can cause several side effects, such as dry mouth, dizziness, confusion and reduced memory, especially in more susceptible people, such as the elderly.
Physiotherapy exercises and bathroom time adjustments are also alternatives that help control symptoms. Learn more about forms of treatment.
Natural treatment
The natural treatment for urinary incontinence is oriented to all cases, being very important to assist pharmacological treatment and to reduce the frequency or intensity of incontinence. Thus, it is recommended:
- Behavioral therapy, which consists of setting times to go to the bathroom, even if there is no urge to urinate, as a way to prevent sudden losses; Practice perineal exercises, which consist of contraction and relaxation of the perineal muscles in 30-minute sessions, twice per week; Weight loss, in cases of people who are overweight, to decrease excess weight on the bladder and pelvis muscles; Regulate the bowel, as constipation can also worsen urinary incontinence. Learn more tips on what to do to control urinary incontinence in menopause. Take care with your diet, exciting bladder foods such as caffeine, alcohol, citrus fruits, smoking and spicy foods.
See more tips in the following video:
