Wellness

[LiveNLearn]

Has anyone tried the new overactive bladder patches that are sold over the counter? Starts with "oxy". I tried reading reviews from women that have tried these and for the most part they have been positive. I find now that I'm aging that I may need to try these but am always hesitant to try new products and deal with possible side effects. In reading about this product, the active ingredient has a relaxing affect on certain muscles which would relieve the feeling of having to empty the bladder. My question would be, if this is how it works, wouldn't it then relax those muscle and cause leakage if those muscles are already weak? If anyone has tried these transdermal patches, I'd like to hear how they worked for you. This aging thing is not pleasant sometimes lol.

[Tinkrbl44]

I can give you a little information; my best friend uses them.

First, it really depends on how strong the spasm is ..... the medication used in Oxytrol is oxybutnin, which is generic for Ditropan, which has been around for decades .... and is a tried and true cheap med in the generic. They can give this drug to children who have bed wetting problems, so it's mild with few side effects (she was told).

This drug works by stopping the spasm (urge to pee) and the OTC patches can be helpful. However, if they don't "work", you may need to see your PCP, or a urologist to get a stronger dosage pill.

Hope this helps.

Tink

[Krimpette]

My elderly mom wore the patches for a few years before they went generic. Boy, were they expensive!!!!! They helped her with her "leaking" problem. However, her poor tummy had patch marks all over the place. She didn't much care, however, since she was over 90.

[Kachina624]

They're expensive and don't work. Get a script for Detrol.

[Mominohio]

I don't at all assume you haven't received or considered proper medical care, but my mom was told by several specialists that she had overactive bladder, but when she finally got the right urologist, he confirmed a very serious condition, that all the OA meds will do nothing for.

If you are having any pressure, or pain (they even thought she had UTI infections, and she didn't), please find a good urologist, and have them scope your bladder. My mom was found to have intersticial cystitis (which is very painful as it progresses, and the lining of the bladder is breaking down, and highly inflamed), and it requires much different treatment.

Hope you get some relief.

[Toppers]

Mominohio, I have heard that "over-active bladder" is actually interstitial cystitis, in some cases. I have IC, too. I saw a Urologist and had my bladder scoped too, years ago.

It is much better now, but when I first had symptoms, I was so uncomfortable and was really miserable from it.

[shoekitty]

On 2/7/2015 northernlights said:

Mominohio, I have heard that "over-active bladder" is actually interstitial cystitis, in some cases. I have IC, too. I saw a Urologist and had my bladder scoped too, years ago.

It is much better now, but when I first had symptoms, I was so uncomfortable and was really miserable from it.

You are right! IC is a hard to diagnose disease. I have it, and it took years. They often treated IC like OAB. I took the medicine for OAB, and it made things worse. IC has come to the forefront the last 10 years. Before that little was known. There is little they can do besides Parson's treatments and meds. There are a couple surgical procedures. The drug Urelle really helped me!!

[shoekitty]

On 2/7/2015 mominohio said:

I don't at all assume you haven't received or considered proper medical care, but my mom was told by several specialists that she had overactive bladder, but when she finally got the right urologist, he confirmed a very serious condition, that all the OA meds will do nothing for.

If you are having any pressure, or pain (they even thought she had UTI infections, and she didn't), please find a good urologist, and have them scope your bladder. My mom was found to have intersticial cystitis (which is very painful as it progresses, and the lining of the bladder is breaking down, and highly inflamed), and it requires much different treatment.

Hope you get some relief.

MOm

It is horrible! The closest I can describe it is like torture that never ends. There is pressure like always having to go. A twitching spasm in the bladder, like you can feel it moving in spasms. At nights I would get up maybe 25 times to go. I fell asleep on the john once and nearly went through the shower. At it's peak (during an attack) the pain is like a bladder infection at it's worst.

The triggers can be acids, like lemon, oranges, berries, some tea, even lemon meringue pie would set me off. And those sour candies! I can only think maybe some of those triggers for IC would help those with OAB?

[colliemom4]

I used these patches years ago, but I got them from a urologist so they may have been stronger. They did work, but it took at least six weeks or so for them to start working. They may not work for everyone, and some people don't like patches, but I decided to use them. I was eventually able to stop using them and no longer have an overactive bladder problem. But I used them for several years.

[feline groovy]

BTW, interstitial cystitis is common in fibromyalgia.