Overactive bladder – with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and accidental loss of urine – is a medical condition that affects 1 in 11 American adults. It can occur in men and women of all ages, but becomes more common with advancing age. However, overactive bladder is not normal at any age, and effective treatment is available.
The symptoms of overactive bladder:
- Urinary frequency – often having to go to the bathroom more than 8 times in 24 hours
- Frequency at night (nocturia) – may include waking up to urinate 2 or more times at night
- Urgency – a strong and sudden desire to urinate
- Accidental loss of urine – associated with a simultaneous sudden and controllable urge to urinate (urge incontinence)
These symptoms occur when the large muscle of the urinary bladder known as the detrusor muscle is inappropriately active. Instead of staying at rest as urine fills the bladder, the detrusor spasms or contracts when the bladder is incompletely filled. This spasm causes a sudden and sometimes overwhelming urge to urinate even when the bladder isn’t completely full.
Sometimes people with this condition change their behavior to try to cope with their symptoms. For example, they may:
- habitually create a “map” of toilet locations, planning activities based on knowing where toilets can be easily reached
- carry an empty container in the car in case of the need to urinate while traveling long distances
- wear dark and baggy clothing to disguise disposable pads or the signs of a urinary accident.
Many people engage in these “secret” behaviors because they are reluctant to discuss their symptoms. They may not even realize that effective treatment is available.
Seeing a doctor for the symptoms of overactive bladder is a critical first step in obtaining treatment. Only a doctor can determine whether the symptoms are due to overactive bladder or to another type of bladder problem. If overactive bladder is diagnosed, the doctor may prescribe tolterodine tartrate tablets (DETROL*). This medication reduces the frequency and intensity of bladder contractions, thereby decreasing the number of times a person goes to the bathroom. It is the treatment prescribed most often for overactive bladder.
Doctors treat thousands of people with overactive bladder every day. If you (or someone you love) is experiencing urinary frequency, urgency, or accidental loss of urine, treatment may offer the possibility of returning to a more normal life – a chance to regain control of your bladder and the rest of your everyday routine.
A questionnaire to help you and your doctor understand your symptoms.
If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you may have overactive bladder. Occasionally, some of these symptoms may be associated with other, more serious conditions. These symptoms should be discussed with a doctor.
You may want to print this questionnaire, answer the questions, and bring it with you to the doctor’s office. It might help you talk about your symptoms and assist the doctor in determining the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
| Do You Have An Overactive Bladder? | Yes | No |
| Do you urinate more than 8 times in a 24-hour period? | ||
| Do you frequently get up 2 or more times during the night to go to the bathroom? | ||
| Do you have uncontrollable urges to urinate that sometimes result in wetting accidents? | ||
| Do you frequently limit your fluid intake when you are away from home so that you won’t have to worry about finding a bathroom? | ||
| en you are in a new place, do you make sure you know where the bathroom is? | ||
| Do you avoid places if you think there won’t be a bathroom nearby? | ||
| Do you frequently have strong, sudden urges to urinate? | ||
| Do you go the bathroom so often that it interferes with the things you want to do? | ||
| Do you use pads to protect your clothes from wetting? |
These questions were adapted from a questionnaire provided by the Bladder Health Council of the American Foundation for Urologic Diseases (AFUD) as part of the Overactive Bladder Screening Initiative.
For more information on overactive bladder, visit:
American Foundation for Urologic Disease
http://www.afud.org/oab/
American Medical Women’s Association – Overactive Bladder Initiative
http://www.amwa-doc.org/Education/ overactive_bladder.htm
National Association for Continence
http://www.nafc.org
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/urolog
Pharmacia & Upjohn – Overactivebladder.com
http://www.overactivebladder.com
The Simon Foundation for Continence
http://www.simonfoundation.org/html/index.html
WellnessWeb – Access to Continence Care and Treatment
http://www.wellweb.com/INCONT/urinacct.htm
Eric S. Rovner M.D.
