subject: Incontinence – A Side Effect Of Antidepressants [print this page] Incontinence A Side Effect Of Antidepressants
If you are experiencing incontinence and you are also taking antidepressant medication, chances are that the drugs are the source of your continence problem. While there are some antidepressants that actually help alleviate the symptoms of bladder weakness, most have just the opposite effect.
Many of these medications actually relax the bladder muscle and as a result it does not operate as efficiently as it should. If the muscle does not completely compress the bladder it will not fully empty meaning that there isn't sufficient space to accommodate new urine coming from the kidney. When that urine arrives it overflows and creates sufficient pressure to force a dribble or continuous stream through the sphincter controlling the urethra. The result is an uncontrolled leakage that can be very embarrassing.
If you notice the onset of bladder weakness shortly after you start your antidepressant medication, make an appointment with your doctor at your earliest convenience. Do not stop taking your medication because to do so can be very dangerous with some of the drugs.
Sit down with your doctor and explain to him or her suspicions are about the antidepressant. Your physician has a number of options to include adjusting the dosage or finding an alternative drug to use. Together you can find a solution to stop or at least manage your incontinence.
If the problem persists then it's time for another trip back to the doctor. Pharmaceuticals do not always have the same effect on everyone and it is often a game of trial and error to find the best mix for any given individual. Don't become discouraged and again, don't stop taking your medicine.
There are many incontinence products that you can use while you and your physical figure out the best therapy. Use these products so you can carry on with your normal routine without fear of a public accident. Just remember there is an answer and try not to let the antidepressants get you down.
