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Medications for Urinary Incontinence

Other names: Bladder, Weak; Incontinence; Incontinence, Urge; Urge Incontinence; Weak Bladder

Incontinence is the inability to control the passage of urine. This can range from an occasional leakage of urine, to a complete inability to hold any urine.

The three main types of urinary incontinence are:

Stress incontinence -- occurs during certain activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise.

Stress incontinence is a bladder storage problem in which the strength of the muscles (urethral sphincter) that help control urination is reduced. The sphincter is not able to prevent urine flow when there is increased pressure from the abdomen.

Stress incontinence may occur as a result of weakened pelvic muscles that support the bladder and urethra or because of a malfunction of the urethral sphincter.

Treatment for stress incontinence may include behavioral changes, medication, pelvic floor muscle training or surgery.

Urge incontinence -- involves a strong, sudden need to urinate followed by instant bladder contraction and involuntary loss of urine. You don't have enough time between when you recognize the need to urinate and when you actually do urinate.

In most cases of urge incontinence, no specific cause can be identified.Although urge incontinence may occur in anyone at any age, it is more common in women and the elderly.

Treatment for urge incontinence may include medication, retraining, and surgery.

Mixed incontinence -- contains components of both stress and urge incontinence.

Drugs used to treat Urinary Incontinence

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
oxybutynin 5.8 81 reviews for oxybutynin to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx/OTC B N X
Generic name:
oxybutynin systemic
Brand names:
Oxytrol, Ditropan XL, Gelnique
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Myrbetriq 4.2 90 reviews for Myrbetriq to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
mirabegron systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
VESIcare 6.6 41 reviews for VESIcare to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
solifenacin systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Botox 4.2 25 reviews for Botox to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
onabotulinumtoxinA systemic
Drug class:
skeletal muscle relaxants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
onabotulinumtoxinA 4.2 25 reviews for onabotulinumtoxinA to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
onabotulinumtoxinA systemic
Brand name:
Botox
Drug class:
skeletal muscle relaxants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Detrol LA 6.1 7 reviews for Detrol LA to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N X
Generic name:
tolterodine systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
tolterodine 5.8 19 reviews for tolterodine to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N X
Generic name:
tolterodine systemic
Brand names:
Detrol LA, Detrol
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Toviaz 6.5 15 reviews for Toviaz to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
fesoterodine systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
solifenacin 6.5 49 reviews for solifenacin to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
solifenacin systemic
Brand name:
VESIcare
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
amitriptyline Off-label 7.0 3 reviews for amitriptyline to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N X
Generic name:
amitriptyline systemic
Drug class:
tricyclic antidepressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Oxytrol 8.4 18 reviews for Oxytrol to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx B N X
Generic name:
oxybutynin systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
duloxetine Off-label 6.2 5 reviews for duloxetine to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N X
Generic name:
duloxetine systemic
Drug class:
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
hyoscyamine 8.3 6 reviews for hyoscyamine to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N X
Generic name:
hyoscyamine systemic
Drug class:
anticholinergics/antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
mirabegron 4.4 104 reviews for mirabegron to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
mirabegron systemic
Brand name:
Myrbetriq
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
trospium 6.9 22 reviews for trospium to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N X
Generic name:
trospium systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Detrol 5.5 2 reviews for Detrol to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N X
Generic name:
tolterodine systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Ditropan XL Rate Add review
Rx B N X
Generic name:
oxybutynin systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Gelnique 2.0 1 review for Gelnique to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx B N X
Generic name:
oxybutynin systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
fesoterodine 6.6 16 reviews for fesoterodine to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
fesoterodine systemic
Brand name:
Toviaz
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
darifenacin 5.0 8 reviews for darifenacin to treat Urinary Incontinence
Rx C N
Generic name:
darifenacin systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
flavoxate Rate Add review
Rx B N X
Generic name:
flavoxate systemic
Drug class:
urinary antispasmodics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Alternative treatments for Urinary Incontinence

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Urinary Incontinence. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Urinary Incontinence.

Learn more about Urinary Incontinence

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.