When you think of Botox you probably think of reducing wrinkles. But Botox is also proven to significantly reduce the symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). If you’ve been unsatisfied with your current OAB treatment, Botox could be the perfect solution for you.
How It Works
To treat OAB with Botox, your doctor injects it into your bladder muscle. Botox affects the nerves of your bladder, relaxing it and treating the most common symptoms of OAB:
- A strong need to urinate with leaking or wetting accidents (urge urinary incontinence)
- A strong need to urinate right away (urgency)
- Urinating often (frequency) in adults 18 years and older
Botox targets the source of OAB by blocking the signals that trigger overactive bladder. In order for you to urinate, certain chemicals travel from nerve cells to muscle cells, making your bladder contract. If you have OAB, these muscles contract uncontrollably and you frequently feel like you have to empty your bladder.
How It Helps You
If your current OAB treatment isn’t working, you’re not alone. 73.5% of patients have said that they stopped their OAB treatment within 1 year due to lack of results or unwanted side effects. Botox, however, will:
- Reduce daily leakage episodes
- Treat the strong need to urinate
- Reduce the number of times you need to empty your bladder daily
Taking the Next Step
Ask your urologist if Botox is the right treatment for your OAB. Here are some questions you can ask your doctor:
- What are my treatment options?
- What potential benefits could I experience from treatment with Botox?
- What are the potential side effects of treatment with Botox?
- What is self-catheterization, and what should I know about it?
- How do you perform Botox treatment?
- How soon will Botox start to work?
- When should I come back for an appointment after treatment with Botox?
- When should I schedule my next Botox treatment?