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Medications that can cause urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, can be caused by various health conditions and physical changes, such as childbirth, changes in diet, infection, prostate issues, menopause, and neurological disorders. But there are also a number of medications can cause urinary incontinence in both men and women in a variety of different ways.
|
Medication |
Effect |
Symptoms |
|
Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, Oretic), furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), triamterene with hydrochlorothiazide (Maxzide) |
Increase urine production by the kidney |
Frequent urination, overactive bladder, stress incontinence |
|
Muscle relaxants and sedatives such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), lorazepam (Ativan) |
Cause sedation or drowsiness; relax the urethra |
Frequent urination, stress incontinence, lack of concern or desire to use the toilet |
|
Narcotics such as oxycodone (Percocet), meperidine (Demerol), morphine |
Cause sedation or drowsiness; relax the bladder, causing it to retain urine |
Lack of concern or desire to use the toilet, difficulty in starting urinary stream, straining to void, voiding with a weak stream, leaking between urinations, frequency incontinence |
|
Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) |
Relax the bladder, causing it to retain urine |
Overflow incontinence |
|
Alpha-adrenergic antagonists such as terazosin (Hytrin), doxazosin (Cardura) |
Relax the muscle at the outlet of the bladder |
Leaking when coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, etc. |
From Better Bladder and Bowel Control, Harvard Health Publishing
Image: Thinkstock
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Physical therapy provides modest improvement for chronic low back pain
Kinesio taping offers only modest relief for musculoskeletal disorders
Scoliosis treatment: Can it help as you get older?
What factors speed up aging?
New resistance training guidance may simplify your workout
The problem with "classic" Lyme disease symptoms
Healthier plant-based diet tied to lower risk of dementia
Is MRI contrast dye safe?
Are those body aches a sign of gallstones?
Staying active throughout middle age may lower women's risk of dying early
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