Myrbetriq Samples: Fill & Download for Free

Have you tried the medicines that work with urinary urgency? Not only medicine, but there are lots of things to try before you resort to surgery.“DiagnosisIt's important to determine the type of urinary incontinence that you have, and your symptoms often tell your doctor which type you have. That information will guide treatment decisions.Your doctor is likely to start with a thorough history and physical exam. You may then be asked to do a simple maneuver that can demonstrate incontinence, such as coughing.After that, your doctor will likely recommend:Urinalysis. A sample of your urine is checked for signs of infection, traces of blood or other abnormalities.Bladder diary. For several days you record how much you drink, when you urinate, the amount of urine you produce, whether you had an urge to urinate and the number of incontinence episodes.Post-void residual measurement. You're asked to urinate (void) into a container that measures urine output. Then your doctor checks the amount of leftover urine in your bladder using a catheter or ultrasound test. A large amount of leftover urine in your bladder may mean that you have an obstruction in your urinary tract or a problem with your bladder nerves or muscles.If further information is needed, your doctor may recommend more-involved tests, such as urodynamic testing and pelvic ultrasound. These tests are usually done if you're considering surgery.TreatmentTreatment for urinary incontinence depends on the type of incontinence, its severity and the underlying cause. A combination of treatments may be needed. If an underlying condition is causing your symptoms, your doctor will first treat that condition.Your doctor is likely to suggest the least invasive treatments first and move on to other options only if these techniques fail.Behavioral techniquesYour doctor may recommend:Bladder training, to delay urination after you get the urge to go. You may start by trying to hold off for 10 minutes every time you feel an urge to urinate. The goal is to lengthen the time between trips to the toilet until you're urinating only every 2.5 to 3.5 hours.Double voiding, to help you learn to empty your bladder more completely to avoid overflow incontinence. Double voiding means urinating, then waiting a few minutes and trying again.Scheduled toilet trips, to urinate every two to four hours rather than waiting for the need to go.Fluid and diet management, to regain control of your bladder. You may need to cut back on or avoid alcohol, caffeine or acidic foods. Reducing liquid consumption, losing weight or increasing physical activity also can ease the problem.Pelvic floor muscle exercisesMale pelvic floor musclesYour doctor may recommend that you do these exercises frequently to strengthen the muscles that help control urination. Also known as Kegel exercises, these exercises are especially effective for stress incontinence but may also help urge incontinence.To do pelvic floor muscle exercises, imagine that you're trying to stop your urine flow. Then:Tighten (contract) the muscles you would use to stop urinating and hold for five seconds, and then relax for five seconds. (If this is too difficult, start by holding for two seconds and relaxing for three seconds.)Work up to holding the contractions for 10 seconds at a time.Aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions each day.To help you identify and contract the right muscles, your doctor may suggest you work with a physical therapist or try biofeedback techniques.Electrical stimulationElectrodes are temporarily inserted into your rectum to stimulate and strengthen pelvic floor muscles. Gentle electrical stimulation can be effective for stress incontinence and urge incontinence, but you may need multiple treatments over several months.MedicationsMedications commonly used to treat incontinence include:Anticholinergics. These medications can calm an overactive bladder and may be helpful for urge incontinence. Examples include oxybutynin (Ditropan XL), tolterodine (Detrol), darifenacin (Enablex), fesoterodine (Toviaz), solifenacin (Vesicare) and trospium (Sanctura).Mirabegron (Myrbetriq). Used to treat urge incontinence, this medication relaxes the bladder muscle and can increase the amount of urine your bladder can hold. It may also increase the amount you are able to urinate at one time, helping to empty your bladder more completely.Alpha blockers. In men with urge or overflow incontinence, these medications relax bladder neck muscles and muscle fibers in the prostate and make it easier to empty the bladder. Examples include tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), silodosin (Rapaflo), doxazosin (Cardura) and terazosin.Interventional therapiesSacral nerve stimulatorSacral nerve stimulation deviceInterventional therapies that may help with incontinence include:Bulking material injections. A synthetic material is injected into tissue surrounding the urethra. The bulking material helps keep the urethra closed and reduce urine leakage. This procedure is generally much less effective than more-invasive treatments such as surgery for stress incontinence and usually needs to be repeated regularly.Botulinum toxin type A (Botox). Injections of Botox into the bladder muscle may benefit people who have an overactive bladder. Botox is generally prescribed to people only if other first line medications haven't been successful.Nerve stimulators. A device resembling a pacemaker is implanted under your skin to deliver painless electrical pulses to the nerves involved in bladder control (sacral nerves). Stimulating the sacral nerves can control urge incontinence if other therapies haven't worked. The device may be implanted under the skin in your buttock and connected to wires on the lower back, above the pubic area or with the use of a special device, inserted into the vagina.SurgerySling proceduresBladder neck suspensionIf other treatments aren't working, several surgical procedures can treat the problems that cause urinary incontinence:Sling procedures. Strips of your body's tissue, synthetic material or mesh are used to create a pelvic sling around your urethra and the area of thickened muscle where the bladder connects to the urethra (bladder neck). The sling helps keep the urethra closed, especially when you cough or sneeze. This procedure is used to treat stress incontinence.Bladder neck suspension. This procedure is designed to provide support to your urethra and bladder neck — an area of thickened muscle where the bladder connects to the urethra. It involves an abdominal incision, so it's done during general or spinal anesthesia.Artificial urinary sphincter. In men, a small, fluid-filled ring is implanted around the bladder neck to keep the urinary sphincter shut until you're ready to urinate. To urinate, you press a valve implanted under your skin that causes the ring to deflate and allows urine from your bladder to flow.Absorbent pads and cathetersIf medical treatments can't completely eliminate your incontinence, you can try products that help ease the discomfort and inconvenience of leaking urine:Pads and protective garments. Most products are no more bulky than normal underwear and can be easily worn under everyday clothing. Men who have problems with dribbles of urine can use a drip collector — a small pocket of absorbent padding that's worn over the penis and held in place by close-fitting underwear.Catheter. If you're incontinent because your bladder doesn't empty properly, your doctor may recommend that you learn to insert a soft tube (catheter) into your urethra several times a day to drain your bladder. You'll be instructed on how to clean these catheters for safe reuse.If you have urge incontinence or nighttime incontinence, make the toilet more convenient:Move any rugs or furniture you might trip over or collide with on the way to the toiletUse a night light to illuminate your path and reduce your risk of fallingIf you have functional incontinence, you might:Keep a bedside commode in your bedroomInstall an elevated toilet seatWiden an existing bathroom doorwayCoping and supportIf you're embarrassed about a bladder control problem, you may try to cope on your own by wearing absorbent pads, carrying extra clothes or even avoiding going out.But effective treatments are available for urinary incontinence. It's important to ask your doctor about treatment. You'll be on your way to regaining an active and confident life.Preparing for your appointmentIf you have urinary incontinence, you're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor. You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in urinary tract disorders (urologist), or if you're a woman, a gynecologist with special training in female bladder problems and urinary function (urogynecologist).What you can doTo get ready for your appointment, it helps to:Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions, such as restricting your diet.Write down your symptoms, including how often you urinate, nighttime bladder activity and episodes of incontinence.Make a list of all your medications, vitamins and supplements, including doses and how often you take the medication.Write down key medical information, including other conditions you may have.Ask a relative or friend to accompany you, to help you remember what the doctor says.Take a notebook or electronic device with you, and use it to note important information during your visit.Write down questions to ask your doctor.For urinary incontinence, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?Is my urinary incontinence temporary?What treatments are available?Should I anticipate any side effects of the treatment?Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing for me?I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?Don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment as they occur to you.What to expect from your doctorYour doctor may ask you a number of questions, such as:When did you first experience symptoms, and how severe are they?Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?What, if anything, seems to improve or worsen your symptoms?How often do you need to urinate?When do you leak urine?Do you have trouble emptying your bladder?Have you noticed blood in your urine?Do you smoke?How often do you drink alcohol and caffeinated beverages?How often do you eat spicy, sugary or acidic foods?”Urinary incontinence