Experiencing Urinary Incontinence? These Common Medications Could Be Causing It

Despite the many benefits of medication, it is always important to remember that it can have negative side effects, including urinary incontinence.

There’s no doubt that medicine is fantastic. It can help people achieve so many things and significantly improve your health.

However, side effects are always a possibility when you take medication, and for many people, urinary incontinence can be a common experience.

So, what medications can cause urinary incontinence, and what can you do about it? Read on to find out.

What is urinary incontinence?

Incontinence is a term that describes any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder. Incontinence is a widespread condition that ranges in severity from small levels of leakage to complete loss of bladder control. Furthermore, there are a number of types of urinary incontinence, and many people may experience a combination of more than one.

Which medications cause urinary incontinence?

Some people may experience urinary incontinence as a result of the medications they are taking. Medicines which can commonly cause urinary incontinence includes the following.

Antipsychotics

A number of antipsychotic medications have been associated with urinary incontinence and incontinence can occur over a broad range of antipsychotic dosages. 

Antidepressants

There are a number of classes of antidepressants, with many causing water retention and subsequently urinary incontinence. 

Antihistamines

Overflow incontinence can be a side effect of antihistamines, which means the bladder is unable to release urine properly and as a result, the bladder can fill up, causing the body to leak urine unexpectedly.

Diuretics 

The purpose of a diuretic medication is to increase the formation of urine by the kidneys. As a result, diuretics increase urinary frequency and may cause urinary urgency and incontinence. 

Calcium channel blockers 

Calcium channel blockers decrease smooth-muscle contractility in the bladder. This causes urinary retention and sometimes leads to overflow incontinence.

Sedative-hypnotics

Sedative-hypnotics result in immobility secondary to sedation that leads to functional incontinence.

Other drugs

Other drugs which have been linked to urinary incontinence include Alpha-adrenergic agonists, ACE Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, Estrogens and Hydroxychloroquine.

What do you do if your medication is causing incontinence? 

For many people, the first sign of urinary incontinence encourages them to stop taking the medication they were on. However, this is not always the best option for your health. If it is not possible to discontinue the medication you are taking, urinary incontinence may be managed with a variety of pharmacologic options. 

Book an appointment with Urology Specialist today

To undergo a vasectomy is an important decision which should never be taken lightly. Be sure to talk to your partner and your doctor to work at whether it is the right option for you. It is important to talk to a trusted professional when it comes to your health. If you have any questions about vasectomies or would like to book an appointment, please feel free to contact or call Dr Arianayagam’s office on 1300 307 990, and his staff will be happy to assist.

Interested in learning more about urological health? Check out some of our other blog posts: 

Vasectomy: What you need to know

10 bladder health superfoods you should incorporate in your diet

What blood in your urine might mean

• Share
• Tweet
• Share