Medications can be used to treat urinary incontinence. Which drug to use is decided according to the type of urinary incontinence. There are urge type, stress type, mixed type, overflow type incontinence types.
Incontinence seen after maneuvers that increase intra-abdominal pressure (coughing, straining, sneezing, laughing, bending over) is called 'stress urinary incontinence'. Duloxetine drug therapy can be used for stress urinary incontinence. Duloxetine can be used in moderate and severe urinary incontinence, but it does not provide a definitive solution. The drug provides stronger contraction of the sphincter, which provides voluntary urine retention. The effect of this drug continues only if it is used, it does not leave a lasting effect.
Urinary incontinence, accompanied by frequent going to the toilet, and incontinence before reaching the toilet, is called 'Stress-type urinary incontinence'. The main factor in this type of urinary incontinence is the sudden and uncontrollable contractions of the urinary bladder. It is a type of urinary incontinence in which a significant number of patients can be treated with drug therapy. Anticholinergic drugs, mirabegron drug treatments reduce the pressure by preventing sudden contractions of the bladder muscle and can be widely used in urge urinary incontinence.
In addition, medication can be applied into the bladder in urge urinary incontinence. Botulinum toxin injection for the bladder (Bladder Botox) is performed endoscopically at 20-30 different points in the patient group who do not benefit from drug treatments. In this treatment, in which patients benefit greatly, repeated treatments in 6 months may be required.
Estrogen hormone plays an important role in urinary incontinence in women. It regulates the strength and flexibility of tissues in the vagina and urinary tract. It can be useful in the treatment of both types of urinary incontinence in women, as its level decreases with age. It can be used in the form of a vaginal cream or in the form of a ring.