Urinary incontinence refers to the involuntary passing of urine. There are several types of urinary incontinence: urge incontinence, also known as "overactive bladder," a condition in which a person involuntarily passes urine accompanied by the strong urge to urinate; overflow incontinence, in which a bladder does not completely empty and therefore leaks excess urine; stress incontinence, resulting from physical pressure on the bladder; or functional incontinence, a mental or physical impairment that prevents a person from reaching a bathroom when the need strikes. Several types of medications alter bladder function and can lead to or increase the likelihood of experiencing urinary incontinence.
Lifestyle Drugs
Lifestyle drugs like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine can cause or worsen incontinence. Caffeine, found in high levels in coffee, tea and some soft drinks, irritates the bladder, increases the production of urine and can result in sudden urges to urinate. Alcohol has a diuretic effect, which increases the production of urine; and if people drink too much, loss of inhibition and motor coordination can prevent them from getting to a bathroom in time. Nicotine irritates the bladder and can make people cough, leading to urine leakage because of physical pressure of the abdomen impinging on the bladder, warns the Mayo Clinic.
Adrenergic Medications
Adrenergic agonists like pseudoephedrine stimulate the prostate and the muscles in the neck of the bladder. This can cause retention of urine and subsequent overflow incontinence from an overly full bladder. Adrenergic antagonists like tamsulosin or doxazosin relax the muscles of the prostate and neck of the bladder, which can cause stress incontinence as urine leaks out of the dilated passage, says the Merck Manual.
Anticholinergic Medications
Anticholinergic drugs, such as antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics and benztropine, relax the muscles of the bladder wall so that it does not totally empty after urination. That can cause urine retention and overflow incontinence, says the Merck Manual.
Calcium-Channel Blockers
Calcium-channel blockers, such as diltiazem, nifedepine and verapamil, decrease the ability of the detrusor muscle to contract. The detrusor muscle squeezes the bladder during urination so that it empties completely; according to the Merck Manual. With loss of detrusor tone, a person might experience urine retention and overflow incontinence.
Diuretics
Diuretics, by definition, increase the rate of urination. The Merck Manual lists the diuretics bumetanide, furosemide and theophylline as drugs that not only increase the production and output of urine, but that can cause urge incontinence.
Opioids
In addition to altering awareness, which can cause functional incontinence, opioids cause urinary retention, says the Merck Manual, which can lead to overflow incontinence.
