OVERACTIVE BLADDER MEDICATION PDF

A lot of people do not seek medical attention and decide to just ‘live with it’. It is often thought to be more common in women but in reality, it is about as common in men. 1 in 6 over the age of 40 suffers from it, and the incidence increases with age. OAB can also occur secondary to an obstruction of the bladder outlet such as prostatic obstruction in men. Some cases are related to a neurological cause such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis or strokes. Most commonly, there is no known cause for OAB (idiopathic).

OVERACTIVE BLADDER MEDICATION PDF

If you have been diagnosed with OAB, take the validated International Continence Society (ICS) questionnaire on OAB – ICIQ-OAB, to assess its severity and impact on quality of life.ĭownload ICIQ-OAB: International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Overactive Bladder PDF (275 KB) What causes it? How often do you pass urine during the day?ĭo you always have to know where the toilet is when you are out of the house?ĭuring the night, how many times do you get up to urinate? Is it your bladder that wakes you up? Have you not made it to the toilet fast enough and leaked urine? Is this precipitated by hand washing or turning the key in the front door? Questions to ask yourself if you may have OABĭo you have a sudden need to rush to the toilet to urinate? All these culminate in a sense of loss of control over the bladder and eventually, one’s life. Financially, the costs of pads or bladder medications can add up to a significant amount. They are unable to enjoy a normal diet as they have to restrict both solid and fluid intake in order not to trigger a bladder spasm.

Sufferers often feel tired all the time because they are waking up too many times at night to pass urine, and not getting enough rest. This can happen to the extent that some rarely leave the house and become a ‘bladder hermit’. Some people avoid social situations due to fear of leaking, smell and embarrassment. Patients find their lives revolving around the toilet and they have to plan their day according to access to a toilet. OAB can significantly impact on someone’s quality of life emotionally, socially, physically and financially. It may also be associated with urge incontinence (urine leakage when one cannot get to the toilet in time due to an overwhelming urge). The overactive bladder is characterised by a set of symptoms such as an uncontrollable urge to pass urine and the frequent need to urinate both during the daytime and nighttime.

Overactive bladder medication