Treatments for overactive bladder are therapies used to treat overactive bladder or related conditions, such as urinary incontinence and frequent urination. Drugs are commonly prescribed for this. Other non-drug treatments are also used.
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Efficacy of treatments
Studies have shown that few people get complete relief from overactive bladder drugs and that all available drugs are no more than moderately effective. A typical person with overactive bladder may urinate 12 times per day. Medication may reduce this number by 2-3 and reduce urinary incontinence events by 1-2 per day.
Oxybutynin is sometimes used in combination with Kegel exercises and Functional electrical stimulation.
A 2009 literature review on women found that no drug seemed better than others, and paid special attention to comparing newer drugs to older ones. There is not sufficient evidence to guide the choices doctors and patients make in treating overactive bladder with experimental treatments including sacral nerve stimulation, oxybutynin instillation, and botulinum toxin injections. The research literature shows that in alternative medicine, acupuncture has shown some efficacy while reflexology and hypnosis have not. In all cases the strength of evidence is not sufficient to allow fully informed recommendations of treatment. Some behavior modification practices were associated with benefits comparable to any other treatment. The strength of the evidence is insufficient to fully inform choice of these treatments. Some behavior modification practices produced symptom improvements comparable to medications, but the limited evidence available shows no improvement for patients who combine behavior changes with drugs.
Non-drug treatments
Non-drug treatments for overactive bladder include sacral nerve stimulation, acupuncture, and behavior modification.
Classification of drugs
Most drugs used to treat overactive bladder are muscarinic antagonists.