Physicians may prescribe certain types of medications to help people who experience urinary incontinence. With this condition, the bladder inappropriately contracts to initiate the flow of urine, MayoClinic.com reports. This can happen frequently and cause spurts of urine to occur at different times of the day. Medications can help the incontinence sufferer regain control of the bladder function.
Oxybutynin
Oxybutynin, classified as an anti-cholinergic medication, inhibits the bladder from the act of continually contracting. This stops the leakage of urine that occurs as a result of inappropriate and numerous contractions of the urinary tract and bladder, Drugs.com indicates.
People who do not have the ability to urinate, those suffering from problems of blockage within the digestive tract and those with narrow angle glaucoma should not use this type of medication.
Common and non-serious side effects of oxybutynin include nausea, abdominal pain, insomnia, dizziness, drowsiness and other problems, including blurred vision, Drugs.com reports.
Tolterodine
This medication, classified as an antimuscarinic, also stops bladder contractions associated with an overactive bladder. It helps stop symptoms of frequency, urgency and leakage.
People who have narrow angle glaucoma, problems urinating and problems emptying stomach contents should refrain from using tolterodine, Drugs.com recommends. Non-serious common side effects include drowsiness, headaches, abdominal pain, constipation and blurred vision.
Estrogen
Estrogen, categorized as a female hormone, helps replenish circulation and blood flow to areas of the vaginal and urinary tract area, according to MayoClinic.com. By improving circulation in these areas, bladder leakage can be controlled or decreased.
Estrogen in this usage has no common side effects. This medication increases in its therapeutic advantages, controlling bladder leakage when used in conjunction with pelvic floor exercises, MayoClinic.com indicates.
Impramine
Although classified as a tricyclic antidepressant, impramine can force the bladder muscles to relax while causing the muscle at the neck of the bladder to contract, MayoClinic.com explains.
This influence corrects the inconsistent bladder contractions that cause leakage of urine. Impramine has a therapeutic affect at nighttime, so it also can help children with bedwetting.
Desmopressin
The synthetic version of the anti-diuretic hormone vasopressin is called desmopressin, and it inhibits urine production, MedlinePlus reports. In conditions where excessive urine production occurs, particularly at night, desmopressin can fill in for vasopressin to help balance salt and water in the body.
The medication, MedlinePlus indicates, helps both bedwetting children as well as adults suffering from injuries or particular forms of diabetes to produce less urine, which helps reduce leakage.
The only common side effects of desmopressin are diarrhea and temporary abnormal thinking. Doctors expect these side effects to stop without help, but anyone taking the drug should report problems if they persist or appear severe.
