Anyone take overactive bladder meds

[ArianaRose]

I keep reading that they can cause retention. Going constantly is awful but then not being able to go at all might be even worse.

I’ve found that antihistamines stop frequency and urgency. They only seem to work for a few weeks before the OAB returns. Prescription meds don’t always work and come with side effects including a higher risk of dementia with some. I must say I’ve not read about retention. There are a few Facebook groups where you can get loads of advice.

I've been on OAB meds for years. They work for me - never had any retention problems. The dementia link worries me, but I have tried coming off them or trying different ones but it doesn't work for me.

I’ve just started taking pumpkin seed oil capsules for nighttime oab. Too soon to say yet but apparently they’re supposed to help.

I took trospium chloride a few years ago. It was great for a while but had two episodes of retention, one where I had to go to A&E so I came off them. Weirdly my bladder was then fine after I stopped taking them and I needed no further medication.

I started taking my hayfever tablets everyday a few years ago. It really stopped my hayfever from being so bad every year.
but it wasn’t until I read this that I realised that my bladder has got better. I can now drink tea and I don’t go all the time. Hmmmm. Never thought to connect the two till now.

op I tried this when my bladder first started going wrong. They never worked for me and higher the dose the worse my reaction to them. But my sister takes them and has found them really helpful.

I might not be talking about the same thing affecting other posters, but I was driven mad having to go to the loo every five minutes, and planning an outing was like hunt the toilet on google as I would need one the minute I landed somewhere, getting up many times during the night too and immediately after going etc. I also had a few UTIs aswell. Maybe your issues are worse.

I am post menopausal, not taking HRT and just put it down to getting older so I didn't get it checked out. However I had gynae surgery some months ago, and the consultant advised me to use Estriol (Ovestin) which is a vaginal oestrogen cream. It has helped the urinary issue enormously. I am never going to be 20 again with an iron bladder, but the difference now is significant.

Just thought I'd mention it in case it might help any of you.

I'm on Mirabegron for my overactive bladder, are you menopausal? If so ask about vaginal oestrogen therapy, I've gone from wetting myself 6 or 7 times a day to being 90% dry with the odd accident. I've never had retention but was warned it could happen after botox in my bladder, luckily I had no problems.

How long did Estrogen take to work

A couple of months to be honest, but it varies. It's not an instant fix, but it's worth persevering, well it was for me!

I'm on HRT and mirabegron, which was a revelation.

I can go for hours without needing the loo now. Thoroughly recommend.

Have you had any issues with Mirabegron.

My issues were significantly improved by HRT

I am on Mirabegron and Solifenacin, they have definitely helped. I used to be like @maftaz and constantly plotting the nearest toilet. Now I feel like a normal person!

I still have a bit of leakage but the frequency and urgency have definitely improved. The medication has changed my life.

I am on Darifenacin and it has changed my life. Like a lot of people my life was dictated as to where the nearest toilet was. I go to a lot of gigs and go the theatre and just didn’t drink anything when I was out to the point I was having dizzy spells.

I was on Solifenicin but had to stop as it caused the most horrendous gastric issues.

Having said that I did test out pumpkin seed capsules and after about a month they seemed to work too.

i went for acupuncture as i was up multiple times a night. it worked well but i do go for treatment regularly. now im only up once overnight.

I take Solifenacin. It helps, but I still get toilet anxiety when out and about. I've had OAB since DD was born 25 years ago. Perhaps I should investigate a different treatment. I'm 66, not on HRT (never had it).

HRT is that Estrogen patches

Mine is oestradiol gel which is applied to my skin daily. I put it on my upper thighs.

I also have a Mirena coil which releases progestogen.

And finally - an Estring pessary which is placed in the vagina and stays there for three months. It's slow-release oestrogen.

None at all. It's changed my life, for the better.
I couldn't believe the difference it made. So much better.

Mine stopped when I cut down drastically on tea drinking.

I agree that cutting out caffeine helps quite a bit.
I only drink decaff tea and coffee now.

I read that mirabegron can increase blood pressure so I changed to viragron

I didn't know that, but mine has been fine.

Its called vibegron, sorry I got the name wrong before