Botox, the drug that has smoothed brows from coast to coast, is best known as a drug used in cosmetic medicine. However, it also has use in treating medical conditions, including bladder problems. Three separate studies evaluated how well Botox works at helping people with overactive bladder problems.
One study looked at using Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) in controlling urinary incontinence in patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Botox injections work by blocking the muscles and nerves in the bladder that cause a feeling of urgently needing to urinate. Nearly 40% reported that they were able to control their urinary incontinence for at least 6 months and nearly 30% said their symptoms were under control for more than a year.
A second study looked at the incidence of a side effect of Botox treatment for overactive bladder that has no known cause, retention of urine that requires catheterization. It found that nearly 21% of patients having a first Botox treatment needed catheterization, but that 40% of patients who experienced urinary retention continued to have a second Botox treatment.
The third study looked at long-term outcomes for people with bladder overactivity due to nerve problems who were treated with Botox. It found that about 88% of patients experienced a 50% or more reduction in urinary incontinence episodes per day and that up to 52% of patients reported reductions in urinary incontinence each year of treatment. The most common side effect was urinary tract infections.
These studies were reported at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association.
Botox is approved for use in treating overactive bladder in patients for whom other medications do not work well enough or cannot be taken. The first line treatment for overactive bladder is a class of drugs called anticholinergic drugs.
In addition to bladder problems, Botox is used to treat several conditions involving muscle spasms as well as chronic migraines and excessive sweating.
