subject: Sometimes Medication For Bedwetting Is The Only Solution [print this page] Bedwetting treatments range from simple treatments to the use of external products, and finally to the use of medication. If control of the bladder is still not achieved after exhausting all other forms of treatment, then a physician will often suggest medication. There are several different medications which work in different ways, and it is the responsibility of the physician to choose the right one for the child.
One of the bedwetting treatments that is being used in some cases is a drug called DDAVP, or desmopressin acetate. This medication isn't stored in the body as with some other medications, and thus it doesn't accumulate dangerously. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the tablet form, but has banned the nasal form due to the risk of hyponatremia, or a lower than safe level of sodium in the body. Normally, the body has antidiuretic hormones which are released into the body prior to sleep. In some children this hormone isn't active due to lack of physical growth or it just isn't working properly, and thus this drug will replace it. This drug may be a cure for bedwetting, but it is expensive and long term use may be questionable.
Other therapies for a bedwetting problem involve the use of an antidepressant medication called Imipramine. This drug is believed to work by increasing the capacity of the bladder (so it should be taken right before bedtime) and by reducing the depth of sleep that the person experiences in the final third phase of their sleep time. Imipramine is considerably less expensive than DDAVP however it could prove to be dangerous for children and although it might stop bedwetting, it may also contribute to other problems, such as insomnia, fatigue and sensitivity to sunlight.
Anti-spasmodic medications are other treatments which have shown a certain amount of success to put a stop to bedwetting. Generally, they are used for lack of bladder control throughout the daytime. They work by decreasing the quantity of bladder contractions that occur, thus enabling the individual to go without urinating for a longer period of time. There is often a drying out of the body that occurs with this medication and consequently drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation are common adverse reactions.
Medications used as bedwetting treatments should only be considered after all other techniques have been exhausted. Any medication that is taken can have side effects or can affect different systems of the body. It is much better to wait it out, because sooner or later most healthy kids outgrow this problem anyway.
