Over The Counter Remedies For Overactive Bladder

Herbal Supplements To Treat Oab

Various herbal supplements, available at many pharmacies or online, may help improve OAB symptoms. Though many have been used for years, there is little research to back the efficacy of these treatments. They include:

• Green tea extract: There are no human studies performed to date to prove green tea extracts work. However, a study on rats indicate that rats treated with green tea catechins had fewer bladder contractions than rats without the treatment when recovering from removal of ovaries as a treatment for bladder damage.
• Gosha-jinki-gan: A combination of 10 Asian herbs is said to reduce urinary frequency. A small study â 44 women in Japan â demonstrated this when taking 7.5 milligrams of this supplement for eight weeks. However, this study has yet to be replicated on a large scale.
• Buchu: A flowering plant that is native to South Africa, buchu supposedly heals a variety of medical conditions. There are no studies that indicate that buchu helps to ease OAB symptoms, but buchu tea is caffeine-free. Perhaps swapping buchu tea for coffee may ease symptoms as caffeine can exacerbate symptoms.
• Hachimi-jio-gan: Similar to gosha-jinki-gan, hachimi-jio-gan is a combination of Asian herbs. HE contains several of the same herbs as gosha-jinki-gan. A small-scale Japanese study performed on rats indicated that this supplement reduced bladder contractions prompted by acetylcholine.

While some of these may be helpful, you might able be wondering what herbs do not work.

Why Our Proprietary Extraction Process Matters

Our unique, high-quality saw palmetto oil is produced in Florida with a patented and proprietary ultrahigh pressure, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction process . Supercritical CO2 extraction is a green technology that produces a quality extract without the use of harsh organic solvents. The process uses carbon dioxide, similar to what is used in carbonated soft drinks. Typically, CO2 behaves as a gas, but if the temperature and pressure are increased, CO2 can achieve a state called “supercritical” where it has properties of both a gas and a liquid. In the supercritical state, CO2 can be used very efficiently as a solvent to extract oils from natural botanicals. Our finely-tuned proprietary process allows us to achieve pressures under controlled temperature that produces an oil with more extracted from every berry in a natural, “green” way. This enables our unique, high-quality extract to meet both US Pharmacopeia and European monograph requirements.

What Questions Should I Ask A Healthcare Provider

• How do you know that I have an overactive bladder?
• Whats the cause of my overactive bladder?
• Whats a normal number of times to pee each day?
• How much should I drink each day?
• What fluids should I drink?
• What fluids should I avoid drinking?
• What foods should I eat?
• What foods should I avoid eating?
• What treatments do you recommend?
• Are there any side effects to your recommended treatment?
• What medications do you recommend?
• Are there any side effects to your recommended medications?
• Are there any other lifestyle changes I can make?
• Can you recommend a support group for people with overactive bladder?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Overactive bladder is a common condition that causes changes in your bathroom habits, which can be embarrassing. Many people struggle to talk to a healthcare provider about their symptoms. However, providers can help answer any of your questions without judgment. They can determine the cause of your overactive bladder and work with you to develop the best treatment plan. If you have symptoms of overactive bladder, talk to a healthcare provider so you can regain control of your bathroom habits and improve your quality of life.

Recommended Reading: Can Endometriosis Cause Bladder Issues

If You Have A Different Condition

Conditions that affect the bladder or prostate can also lead to other urinary symptoms, such as painful urination or blood in the urine. Pelvic floor dysfunction can cause painful urination too.

Both early and late stages of ovarian cancer can cause urinary urgency.

People with diabetes may find that their urine looks cloudy or smells sweet.

In diabetes insipidus, the urine is typically clear and odorless.

A doctor will perform tests to determine whats causing you to urinate frequently. Theyll ask you some questions, such as:

• When did your symptoms begin?
• What other symptoms are you experiencing?
• Do you have any unexpected leaking of urine? If so, in what situations?

Theyll most likely ask you for a urine sample to check for:

• other abnormal findings such as protein or sugar

Your doctor will also conduct an exam of your abdomen. They will likely perform other physical exams, such as:

• a prostate exam

Other tests that can be useful include:

• Bladder scan. This is an ultrasound done on your bladder after youve urinated to see how much urine is left behind.
• Cystoscopy. Using a lighted instrument, the doctor can take a closer look inside the bladder as well as take tissue samples if necessary. Learn more about cytoscopy.
• Additional urinary testing. This involves a variety of tests that look to see how well your urinary system is working. Examples include urodynamic testing and uroflowmetry.

Also Check: How Do You Know If Your Bladder Is Leaking

How Can Diet Affect Overactive Bladder

Some foods and drinks irritate the bladder, possiblycontributing to the problem. You should strive to eliminate caffeinefrom your diet by halting use of coffee, tea, and all caffeinated softdrinks. Alcohol should be eliminated entirely, as it is another bladderirritant. Spices such as pepper add flavor to foods, but they also cancause severe irritation to the bowels and bladder. It may be helpful tokeep a diary of your intake of these foods and drinks to see if theyactually do produce a worsening of symptoms.

Recommended Reading: How To Take Care Of A Bladder Infection At Home

Cautions With Other Medicines

Mirabegron may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how mirabegron works.

Tell your pharmacist or doctor if youre taking:

• digoxin, a medicine for heart failure or abnormal heart rhythm
• imipramine or desipramine, medicines for urinary incontinence or nerve pain
• dabigatran, a blood thinner
• ketoconazole or itraconazole, medicines used to treat fungal infections
• ritonavir, a medicine used to treat HIV

Also Check: How To Check Bladder Cancer

Eating To Reduce Constipation

Sometimes constipation can place extra pressure on your bladder. You can prevent constipation by exercising regularly and including more fiber in your diet. Foods high in fiber include beans, whole-wheat breads, fruits, and vegetables.

The Cleveland Clinic recommends eating 2 tablespoons of a mixture of 1 cup of applesauce, 1 cup unprocessed wheat bran, and 3/4 cup of prune juice every morning to promote bowel regularity.

Read Also: What’s The Treatment For Bladder Cancer

Who Can And Cannot Take Mirabegron

Mirabegron can be taken by adults .

It is not suitable for everyone. To make sure its safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting mirabegron if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to mirabegron or any other medicines in the past
• have liver or kidney problems
• have high blood pressure
• are not able to pee or empty your bladder completely
• have a blockage in your bladder
• have a heart problem called QT prolongation
• are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding

Read Also: What Causes Loss Of Bladder And Bowel Control

Natural Remedies For An Overactive Bladder

1. Kegel Exercises

If a weak pelvic floor is at the root of your OAB then kegel exercises can help a lot. These pelvic floor exercises can be done anywhere at anytime and they benefit both men and women. When done regularly, they can really help an overactive bladder.

Melody Denson, MD, a board-certified urologist with the Urology Team in Austin, TX, recommends these exercises for OAB. She says, They will trigger a reflex mechanism to relax the bladder. If you feel a tremendous urge to urinate, doing a kegel before you run to the bathroom will help settle down the bladder spasm and help you hold it until you get there.

2. Avoid Dietary Triggers

Significantly reduce the following foods and drinks that are known to contribute to overactive bladder:

• Soda and other carbonated beverages
• Artificial sweeteners
• Milk and milk products
• Sugar and high sugar foods

Caffeine, alcohol and certain medications like diuretics are known to be major causes of acute incontinence, especially in the elderly population. Cranberry juice is surprisingly another thing to avoid if you have OAB. Although cranberry juice is often recommend for bladder health, it actually acts as an irritant if you have OAB.

3. Watch Fluid Intake

4. Double-Void

5. Schedule bathroom trips

6. Delay Urination

7. Try Acupuncture

8. Stop Smoking

Also Check: Can Prostate Cancer Spread To The Bladder

Azo Urinary Pain Relief Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using AZO Urinary Pain Relief and call your doctor at once if you have:

• little or no urinating

• confusion, loss of appetite, pain in your side or lower back

• fever, pale or yellowed skin, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting or

• blue or purple appearance of your skin.

Common side effects may include:

Also Check: How To Retrain Your Bladder At Night

Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation is a minimally invasive procedure used to alleviate urinary urgency, urinary frequency, and urge incontinence. In 2010, the FDA formally included OAB as an indication for treatment.

PTNS is a form of nerve stimulation. An electrical needle is inserted into the ankle to deliver low-level impulses to the tibial nerve that runs to the knee joint and connects to the larger sciatic nerve.

Although the exact mechanism of action remains unclear, PTNS has proven to be safe and as effective as OAB medications in people with severe OAB. PTNS is performed once weekly on an outpatient basis and involves a total of twelve 30-minute sessions. People tend to experience an improvement of urinary function within six weeks.

In 2019, an implantable PTNS device was released, which early studies have shown may reduce severe urinary urgency by 94% and severe incontinence by 71%.

You May Like: Cramping In Bladder Or Uterus

Urinary Incontinence In Older Adults

Urinary incontinence means a person leaks urine by accident. While it may happen to anyone, urinary incontinence is more common in older people, especially women. Incontinence can often be cured or controlled. Talk to your healthcare provider about what you can do.

What happens in the body to cause bladder control problems? The body stores urine in the bladder. During urination, muscles in the bladder tighten to move urine into a tube called the urethra. At the same time, the muscles around the urethra relax and let the urine pass out of the body. When the muscles in and around the bladder dont work the way they should, urine can leak. Incontinence typically occurs if the muscles relax without warning.

Also Check: Foods Good For Bladder Control

What Foods And Drinks To Avoid For An Overactive Bladder

If you are dealing with an overactive bladder, avoid these foods :

• Carbonated beverages

You may not have to eliminate all the above foods from your diet. Find out which of the above can be tolerated in small amounts by your body and make changes to your diet accordingly.

Listed below are some helpful tips to manage an overactive bladder and prevent recurrence of symptoms.

Also Check: Can Stress Cause Overactive Bladder

Coping Methods And Quality Of Life Issues

Most women visit their physicians without hesita-tion forsuch conditions as urinary tract infections , vaginal fungalinfections, and birth control. However, for some inexplicable reason, alarge number of those suffering from OAB postpone a medical appointment,many for as long as 6 or 7 years.4 During this time, theyemploy a variety of coping mechanisms of dubious efficacy andquestionable safety. For instance, the use of absorbent pads ispartially effective, but increases the risk of a UTI.4 Somewomen also take great pains to ascertain the location of all bathroomsin advance of an attack of OAB, a behavior known as toilet mapping.4

Women with symptoms of OAB may reduce the extent ofactivities they once found pleasurable, such as movies, walks, tennis,golf, or visiting with friends. They may voluntarily reduce fluidintake, which can lead to dehydration. They may feel forced to wearclothing that would conceal a urine leak, and only sit on furniture thatwould not be permanently stained if a leak were to occur. It becomesapparent that OAB can cause constant concern due to fear of an accidentand also the perception that odor from underclothing or absorbent padsmight be detected by others. If a patient feels forced to lead a moresedentary lifestyle, she may experience greater medical andpsychological problems.

Best Over The Counter Uti Medicines 2020

If youre experiencing difficult, frequent, and painful urination, it may have a UTI. Urinary tract infections are more common among women and develop as a cause of certain bacteria infecting the urethra. The most common ways that bacteria spread to these sensitive regions is either through sexual intercourse and poor hygiene practices.

UTI can be very troubling because of the pain and frequent, strong urges to urinate that it causes. Luckily, there are lots of UTI medications available on the market today. These often come in many forms however, so it can be hard to choose the best over the counter UTI medicine for your needs and your body. If you still cant make a decision and need some help to take your pick, you can take cues from this comprehensive buying guide.

Also Check: Tuberculosis To Treat Bladder Cancer

Also Check: When To Go To Er For Bladder Infection

Azo Urinary Pain Relief Maximum Strength Tablets

Phenazopyridine hydrochloride is the active ingredient of this OTC medication for urinary pain, a chemical which, when excreted into the urine, has a local analgesic effect.

AZO Urinary Pain Relief® Maximum Strength Tablets, unfortunately, does nothing to fight the infection, but only masks the symptoms. Do not take it for longer than three days and dont take it if you have liver problems. If you cover up your symptoms, you might not notice that your UTI is getting worse.

Phenazopyridine is also responsible for the bright orange color of your urine, that indicates the medicine has reached your bladder.

Make sure to not wear white underwear or contact lenses , since this active ingredient can permanently discolor them.

Keep in mind that some animal studies demonstrate a possible link between phenazopyridine and cancer in female rats. Phenazopyridine hydrochloride is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals according to National Toxicologyprogram report.

AZO Urinary Pain Relief® Maximum Strength Tablets contains 97.5 mg of Phenazopyridine per dose.

You May Like: Does Bladder Cancer Pain Come And Go

Precautions And Proper Diagnosis

The main symptoms of OAB can also occur in other health conditions like bladder cancer, urinary tract infection and enlarged prostate. Seeing blood in your urine is not a symptom of OAB.

A sudden and frequent need to urinate is common in both OAB and a UTI. How can you tell the difference between these two urinary health issues? Unlike OAB, a UTI also comes with other symptoms such as discomfort while urinating. In addition, OAB symptoms are continuous while UTI symptoms are sudden and may also include a fever.

Overflow incontinence is characterized by the involuntary release of urine from an overfull urinary bladder, often in the absence of any urge to urinate. This condition is not associated with OAB. It typically occurs in people who have a blockage of the bladder outlet, which can occur with benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer or a narrowing of the urethra. Overflow incontinence can also occur when the muscle responsible for removing urine from the bladder is too weak to empty the bladder in a normal way.

It is very important to see a doctor to ensure a proper diagnosis if you experience any changes in your urine and/or urination habits.

Also Check: Used Bladder Scanner For Sale

Don’t Miss: Can A Prolapsed Bladder Cause Lower Back Pain

Which Antibiotic Gets Rid Of A Uti Fastest

The antibiotic you will be prescribed will depend on a few factors, such as how often you get UTIs, your medication allergies, and other medical conditions you have. No matter which one your provider chooses, though, know that they all work well.

• is a first choice because it works very well and can treat a UTI in as little as 3 days when taken twice a day. Some providers might choose to have you take it a few days longer than that to be sure your infection is totally gone. Unfortunately, Bactrim is a sulfa drug, and many people are allergic to it.

• is another first choice for UTIs, but it has to be taken a bit longer than Bactrim. You have to take Macrobid twice a day for a minimum of 5 days for UTIs, but many providers will have you take it for a week to be sure you are all better.

• remains a fan favorite because it works in as little as 3 days and only has to be taken once a day. But it does carry some serious risks like tendon ruptures and heart problems. It also tends to cause bacterial resistance more often than the previously mentioned antibiotics.

You May Like: What Are The Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infection In Men

Cleavers And Corn Silk

Cleavers, or sticky willy, is a plant that clings to everything, as its name implies. Cleavers tea is marketed as detoxifying and as providing lymphatic support, but no evidence documents its use to reduce OAB symptoms.

Corn silk, the strands you pluck from corn before eating it, is also used to make a tea. This tea is said to ease urinary tract infection symptoms, but no data backs up that claim. Nor is there scientific proof that corn silk would help OAB.

Also Check: How Do They Inject Botox Into The Bladder