Medicines for continence health

Medicines can sometimes be used to help people with incontinence (bladder or bowel leakage) regain control, reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life, supporting independence and wellbeing.

Many options are available, and medicines can often be tailored to individual needs. Talk to a nurse continence specialist, GP (doctor) or pharmacist to guide next steps. They can help you:

• understand your symptoms
• explore medicine options (and non-medicine options too)
• review your current medicines to avoid interactions (where one medicine affects how another medicine works)
• make a plan that fits your continence issues and lifestyle.

Types of medicines to treat incontinence

Here are some common types of medicines used to treat urinary (wee) incontinence:

• bladder relaxants (antimuscarinics) – relax the bladder muscle to reduce urgency and leaking of urine (wee) eg oxybutynin, solifenacin
• urgency blockers (beta-3 agonists) – help the bladder hold more urine (wee) without feeling urgent eg mirabegron
• hormone treatments – sometimes used after menopause to improve bladder control eg vaginal oestrogen
• botulinum toxin (botox) – injected into the bladder to reduce unwanted spasms that can cause leaks and urgency (overactivity).

Some common types of medicines used to treat bowel (poo) incontinence:

• bulking agents eg psyllium
• antidiarrhoeal agents eg loperamide.

Each medicine works differently and may suit different people and different types of incontinence. Your GP (doctor) or pharmacist can help you choose what’s best for you.

How to learn what medicines might be right for you

Track your symptoms

Keep a bladder or bowel diary for a few days – this will help your health professional understand your pattern.

Use our templates to help you:

• Bowel diary template
• Bladder diary template

Talk to a health professional

Start a conversation with your GP (doctor), pharmacist or nurse continence specialist about your symptoms – they can assess your needs and explain options.

It can be helpful to make list of all the medicines you take, including herbal medicines and supplements (vitamins etc), to share with your health professional.

Side effects and reducing their impact

Some medicines for incontinence can cause side effects such as:

• dry mouth
• constipation
• headache
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• confusion
• trouble emptying the bladder (wee)
• high blood pressure.

These side effects may be more common with some medicines compared to others. If you notice any of these symptoms, tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible. They may recommend changing your dose or trying a different medicine that suits you better. Reporting side effects early helps avoid bigger problems later.

You may also be taking medicines for other conditions such as mood, heart disease, dementia or diabetes that may cause side effects that affect the bladder and bowel and cause incontinence. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how to manage these or if there are other medicines that may work better for you.

Start low, go slow

If a medicine is recommended, start with a low dose – this may reduce the risk of side effects, especially for older adults.

Some older adults are more sensitive to medicines and some medicines may affect memory or thinking in older people. Regular conversations with your health professional are important to make sure the medicine is still right for you.

Follow the instructions

Always follow the directions on the medicine label and speak with your doctor or pharmacist before making any changes to how you take your medicine.

Review medicines regularly

Let your doctor or pharmacist know if the medicines are helping or if they are causing problems – medicines may need to be adjusted over time.

Combine medicines with other strategies

Medicines should be used alongside non-medicine strategies such as pelvic floor exercises, bladder training and, if needed, continence products – medicines work best as part of a broader plan.

Your rights

You have the right to:

• ask questions
• understand your options
• say what matters most to you
• seek a second opinion from another health professional.

Your health professional should work with you to create a plan that fits your symptoms, lifestyle and values. Shared decision-making leads to better outcomes and more confidence in your care.

Everyone is different. The best medicine for one person may not work for someone else. Your health professional will consider your continence issues, overall health, other medicines you take and your personal preferences.

If you’re living with incontinence, talk to your GP (doctor), pharmacist or nurse continence specialist to learn about the medicines and other options that can help you manage symptoms and improve independence.

This content has been reviewed by sub­ject mat­ter experts in line with Continence Health Australia’s established process. Read about our clinical content review protocol.