Medications for Controlling a... Video Transcript

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This is especially important in older patients, who are even more susceptible to side effects, in whom you might be able to use lower dosages of drugs that are more selective.

ANNOUNCER: Another technique to reduce side effects is to alter dose, timing of the doses, and the method of delivering the drug.

DIANE NEWMAN, RNC, MSN: The drug delivery, which means how you take the drug, can affect the side effect profile. Most of these drugs are taken in pill format. That means they go through the stomach and the bowel. That may cause more side effects.

A novel way to give a drug is by a skin patch. That way, you don't have to go through the bowel and the stomach and you may have less overall side effects. However, remember, with the skin patch, it may irritate the skin. So you may be trading off what we call central side effects that are through the body with skin side effects and you have to decide what's best for the patient, as far as delivering that drug.

ANNOUNCER: Other types of drugs can be helpful, too. Creams containing estrogen can help relieve irritation and prevent urinary tract infections. Antidepressants can relax the bladder. And a drug called DDAVP can shift urine output from nighttime to daytime, to help people get through the night.

Some trial and error is to be expected in the treatment of OAB. But experts say most patients can expect a good outcome.

DIANE NEWMAN, RNC, MSN: But what we have to realize is we're not sure which drug fits which patient, and we're learning as we go along. But what's important for the patient to understand is we have a solution for the problem overactive bladder. And it's probably going to include some type of drug -- it may be one of the newer drugs -- and some behavioral treatments. Combined, this is probably going to be the most successful outcome for that patient.

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