Urinary frequency, otherwise known as overactive bladder, is a condition that affects both men and women equally. According to urologychannel.com, 13 million Americans suffer from this condition each year. Those diagnosed with overactive bladder often feel a sudden need to urinate, often at unpredictable and inconvenient times. In some cases, it leads to urinary incontinence. Medications are available to treat this condition; however, it is wise to educate yourself about them before beginning your course of treatment.
Tolterodine (Detrol LA)
Tolterodine helps relieve the symptoms of an overactive bladder by reducing the spasms of the bladder muscle. Belonging to a a family of drugs called antimuscarinics, tolterodine affects both the central nervous system and muscarinic receptors in the smooth muscle of the bladder. It is taken once daily, and some of its more common side effects include dry mouth, dizziness, constipation, joint pain, blurred vision, diarrhea, stomach pain and headache.
Trospium Chloride (Sanctura)
A newer drug in the fight against overactive bladder, trospium chloride helps relieve incontinence and urinary frequency by preventing spasms of the bladder. Its most common side effects include dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness, dry throat, bloating, skin rash, blurred vision and stomach pain.
Solifenacin (Vesicare)
Solifenacin works much the same way the above-mentioned drugs do; it prevents urinary frequency and urgency by stopping bladder spams. According to rxlist.com, the recommended dose is 5mg, once a day; if this is tolerated well, this may be increased to 10mg once a day. Its common side effects are similar as well; dry mouth; digestive problems such as constipation, nausea, stomach pain or stomach upset; dizziness; feeling tired; blurred vision and flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, body aches and sore throat.
Oxybutynin Transdermal System
Also known as Oxytrol, this medication is delivered through a transdermal patch that is applied to the hip or abdomen twice a week. The patch releases oxybutynin continuously into the bloodstream and works for a period of four days. The most commonly reported side effects include burning, redness, itching or discoloration of the skin where the patch was worn, blurred vision, warmth or redness under the skin, constipation, diarrhea, stuffy nose, restlessness, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting.
