Overactive bladder is a problem that causes sudden urges to urinate, which may even cause slight incontinence, according to the Mayo Clinic. The fear of having an accident or being incontinent in public may impair your social life and cause added stress.
Significance
According to urologychannel.com, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that nearly 13 million people in the United States struggle with overactive bladder and other problems with incontinence.
Behavioral Treatments
Behavioral treatments can be helpful in managing overactive bladder, but they likely will not result in complete resolution if used alone, according to the Mayo Clinic. These interventions include changing the amount of fluid you consume, adjusting your fiber intake, scheduling toilet trips, doing pelvic floor exercises and wearing absorbent pads.
Medications
There are drugs that relax the bladder and help with overactive bladder. These include tolterodine (Detrol), oxybutynin (Ditropan) and solefenacin (Vesicare). Along with behavioral changes these are typically very effective, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Surgery
Surgical treatment is typically done only when an individual has severe problems with overactive bladder and does not respond to other treatments, according to urologychannel.com.
Botulinum Toxin
This drug, better known as Botox, paralyzes muscles when it is injected into tissues. It has been proven to be effective in severe incontinence but is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat overactive bladder.
