What Medications Irritate The Bladder

What Is The Main Cause Of Overactive Bladder

Conditions or injuries that affect your detrusor muscle cause overactive bladder. Your detrusor muscle is a collection of smooth muscle fibers in the wall of your bladder. These conditions may include:

• Abdominal trauma. Pregnancy and childbirth can stretch and weaken your pelvic muscles. Your pelvic muscles are the muscles and tissues that support the organs in your lower abdomen. Your bladder may sag out of its normal position if your pelvic muscles weaken.
• Nerve damage. Sometimes your body sends signals to your brain and bladder to pee at the wrong time. Certain diseases and trauma can cause nerve damage, including pelvic or back surgery, herniated discs, radiation therapy, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis or a stroke.
• Medications, alcohol and caffeine. All of these can dull your nerves, which affect signals to your brain and cause your bladder to overflow. Diuretics and caffeine may cause your bladder to fill rapidly and potentially leak.
• Infection. An infection, such as a urinary tract infection , can irritate your bladder nerves and cause your bladder to squeeze without warning.
• Extra weight. Having overweight can put extra pressure on your bladder, which can cause urge incontinence.
• Estrogen deficiency after menopause. Hormonal changes may cause urge incontinence. Vaginal-only estrogen therapy can help.

What Are The Implications

There is need to reduce antibiotic use to tackle growing antibiotic resistance. But this study doesnt indicate that prescribing anti-inflammatories for urinary tract infection is the answer.

Women who have several symptoms are almost certain to have a bacterial infection. Giving anti-inflammatories may reduce antibiotic use, but symptom resolution is less likely, and there is a higher risk that infection will ascend to the kidneys.

As the authors note, they chose an antibiotic with known effectiveness in their region. In countries and settings with higher levels of antibiotic resistance, the difference between antibiotics and NSAIDs may be less marked.

How Do I Take Care Of Myself

If treatments dont work for you, or if youre waiting for them to take effect, incontinence products such as disposable pads or adult diapers can help you take control and improve your quality of life.

The following can help boost your comfort and confidence if youre wearing incontinence products:

• Change the product regularly. Changing your pads or adult diapers after a leak helps reduce odors.
• Apply a barrier ointment or lotion. Using a barrier ointment or lotion on your skin before using incontinence products helps prevent skin irritation from regular exposure to pee.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Incontinence products can be bulky and make you feel self-conscious. Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing can help hide incontinence products, so you worry less about others noticing what youre wearing.
• Wear darker clothing. Darker clothing helps hide any leaks that may occur.

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Do I Need To See A Doctor

Yes. Painful urination can be a symptom of a more serious problem. You should tell your doctor about your symptoms and how long youve had them. Tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have, such as diabetes mellitus or AIDS, because these could affect your bodys response to infection. Tell your doctor about any known abnormality in your urinary tract, and if you are or might be pregnant. Tell your doctor if youve had any procedures or surgeries on your urinary tract. He or she also need to know if you were recently hospitalized or stayed in a nursing home.

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Medications That Can Cause Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, can be caused by various health conditions and physical changes, such as childbirth, changes in diet, infection, prostate issues, menopause, and neurological disorders. But there are also a number of medications can cause urinary incontinence in both men and women in a variety of different ways.

From Better Bladder and Bowel Control, Harvard Health Publishing

Image: Thinkstock

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Can A Uti Be Treated Over The Counter

Effects. It pays to keep in mind that a urinary tract infection is a bacteria-caused infection, and that means the best medicine for UTI should be an antibiotic however, because antibiotics for UTI cant be purchased over the counter, its the second best choice to buy a product that promotes urinary tract health to fight off the infection.

Medications That May Cause Increased Urination

There are several potential causes of frequent urination, and the meds youre taking might be one of them.

Stocksy

Maybe youve noticed that youre rushing to the restroom lately. Or youre waking up in the middle of the night to go. Perhaps you’re needing to take way more breaks at work to pee.

There are many potential causes of frequent urination. They include, but are not limited to, an increase in water intake, a urinary tract infection, or onset of a new disease such as diabetes, as the Mayo Clinic notes.

Its worth asking yourself: Have I started a new medication lately?

That gotta-go impulse is a relatively common side effect of various drugs available over-the-counter and by prescription. Many medications can lead to urinary retention and something we call overflow incontinence, which is when the bladder is not able to contract and expel urine effectively, leaving urine in the bladder, says Brooke D. Hudspeth, PharmD, an associate professor and the chief practice officer at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in Lexington. Other meds may interfere with the function of the urethra and lead to leakage or cause the bladder to quickly fill up with urine and make you pee more frequently.

Whether youre on diuretics to reduce your blood pressure, a decongestant to clear your sinuses, or a mood-stabilizing medication for bipolar disorder, here are some common medications that may be causing you to urinate more.

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Sleeping Pills And Incontinence

Only a small percent of people with incontinence have a problem with bed-wetting, according to Anger, who estimates that about 10% of patients with incontinence wet the bed. However, sleeping pills may pose a problem for those with incontinence at night.

“Sleeping pills can make things worse, because people don’t wake up ,” she says.

As an alternative, cut down on caffeine so you sleep better on your own, Anger suggests.

Sleep will come more easily if you keep a regular bedtime and wake-up schedule, according to the National Sleep Foundation. You can also develop a relaxing bedtime ritual, such as reading a book or listening to soothing music.

What Behavioral Changes Can I Make To Help Fix Overactive Bladder

You can make many changes to your behavior to help fix your overactive bladder. These include:

Keeping a bladder diary

A healthcare provider may ask you to keep a bladder diary for a few days. Noting what happened before you had an accident can help the provider determine the cause of your OAB. Youll use your bladder diary to track:

• What you drink.

• Tomatoes and tomato-based products.
• Spicy and acidic foods and drinks.
• Foods and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners, such as diet soft drinks and some chewing gums.

Maintaining bowel regularity

Constipation can place pressure on your bladder and affect your bladder function. You may be able to avoid constipation and reduce bladder symptoms by keeping healthy bowel habits. The following can help you maintain bowel regularity:

• Increase your fiber intake. Incorporate foods such as beans, pasta, oatmeal, bran cereal, whole wheat bread, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables into your diet.
• Drink two to four extra glasses of water each day.
• Exercise regularly.

Managing your weight

Having overweight can put pressure on your bladder, which may contribute to bladder control problems. Maintaining a weight thats healthy for you can reduce pressure on your bladder.

Stop using tobacco products

Cigarettes and other tobacco products can irritate your bladder muscle. Coughing spasms due to smokers cough can also cause leakage.

Bladder retraining

Bladder retraining teaches you how:

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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.

Im Pregnant How Will A Uti Affect My Baby

If you have a UTI and it isnt treated, it may lead to a kidney infection. Kidney infections may cause early labor. Fortunately, asymptomatic bacteriuria and bladder infections are usually found and treated before the kidneys become infected. If your doctor treats a urinary tract infection early and properly, it wont hurt your baby.

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What To Do About Changes When You Urinate

Narrator:What to do about changes when you urinate caused by radiation therapy.

Having problems when you urinate? Listen to solutions from other people undergoing radiation therapy. Also, hear advice from Dr. Ross. Then talk with your own doctor or nurse to learn more.

Miguel:Tip number 1: Drink lots of liquids each day.It’s good for your urine to be clear or a pale yellow color. My doctor says that tells you you’re getting enough liquids. Most people find drinking about 8 cups of liquid a day does the trick. Of course, check to make sure that’s the best amount for you, too.

Cara:Tip number 2: Water is wonderful, but you may want more zip in your sip.I like water, but found it was hard to get enough water each day. I was glad to learn that Jell-O and soups also count as liquids. To add some zip to what I drink, I have water with a little lemon and watered-down juices.

Rodney:Tip number 3: Lose the booze.My doctor told me that wine, liquor, or even beer could really bother my bladder. So now I limit these liquids. Some people may need to stay away from wine, liquor, and beer altogether to avoid irritating their bladder.

My doctor also told me to stay away from caffeine in coffee, colas, or teas. They could make my bladder problems worse. I now choose flavored decaf coffees and tasty herbal teas.

Dr. Ross:Hi, I’m Dr. Ross and you just heard 3 great tips to keep bladder problems under control.

Related Resources

• January 23, 2020

Avoid Food And Beverages That May Irritate The Bladder

The most common bladder irritants are alcohol, caffeinated drinks, carbonated beverages, and spicy dishes.

Both caffeine and alcohol have been found to increase bladder spasming, which can make UTI pain worse. And when men and women increased their intake of coffee or soda, they had higher chances of getting UTI symptoms.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder represents a collection of symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Urinary urgency. Urinary urgency is a sudden, uncontrollable need to pee. Once you feel the need to pee, you have a short amount of time to get to a bathroom.
• Frequent peeing. A frequent need to pee means you have to go to the bathroom more often than usual.
• Urge incontinence. Urge incontinence is a sudden, uncontrollable need to pee, and you may leak pee.
• Nocturia. Nocturia is the need to get up to pee at least two times each night.

How Is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed

Talk with your health care team if you have a problem controlling your bladder. They will work with you to figure out the reason. They may recommend you writing down some details about your urination, including when you urinate, how often you urinate, and how much liquid is released. This is called a “voiding diary.” Your health care provider may also give you the following tests:

• Tests on a sample of your urine to look for an infection or other problems.

• A test where you cough as hard as you can when your bladder is full.

• Tests to measure pressure in your bladder.

• Tests to measure how well your urine is flowing.

• An ultrasound. This uses sound waves to create a picture of your bladder and the other body parts that control urine.

• A cystoscopy. This test uses a small, lighted tube to look inside your bladder.

• An X-ray of your bladder.

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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.

Mechanisms Of Urinary Continence

In healthy individuals, the urinary bladder senses the volume of urine by means of distention. Distention of the bladder excites afferent A-delta fibers that relay information to the pontine storage center in the brain. The brain, in turn, triggers efferent impulses to enhance urine storage through activation of the sympathetic innervation of the lower urinary tract . These impulses also activate the somatic, pudendal, and sacral nerves.1

The hypogastric nerves release norepinephrine to stimulate beta3-adrenoceptors in the detrusor and alpha1-adrenoceptors in the bladder neck and proximal urethra. The role of beta3-adrenoceptors is to mediate smooth-muscle relaxation and increase bladder compliance, whereas that of alpha1-adrenoceptors is to mediate smooth-muscle contraction and increase bladder outlet resistance.1 The somatic, pudendal, and sacral nerves release acetylcholine to act on nicotinic receptors in the striated muscle in the distal urethra and pelvic floor, which contract to increase bladder outlet resistance.1

Efferent sympathetic outflow and somatic outflow are stopped when afferent signaling to the brain exceeds a certain threshold. At this point, the parasympathetic outflow is activated via pelvic nerves. These nerves release acetylcholine, which then acts on muscarinic receptors in detrusor smooth-muscle cells to cause contraction. A number of transmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, and endorphins are involved in this process.1

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How Do I Know If The Treatment Isnt Working

If the treatment isnt working, your symptoms will stay the same, get worse, or you will develop new symptoms. Call your doctor if you have a fever , chills, lower stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. You should also call your doctor if, after taking medicine for 3 days, you still have a burning feeling when you urinate. If you are pregnant, you should also call your doctor if you have any contractions.

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What Causes Irritable Bladder

Irritable bladder can happen to anyone, but research shows that it is prominent in women. What can cause bladder irritation for one person who has the condition may not be what causes irritation for another person who is dealing with it. There are many different potential irritable bladder causes, as outlined below.

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