Medications for Overactive Bladder

For many years, only two medications were approved to treat overactive bladder, but now there are more. Common side effects of overactive bladder medications include: dry mouth, constipation, headache, and blurred vision.

An Overview of Overactive Bladder Medications

There are several medicines approved to treat overactive bladder symptoms. These incldue:
 

How Do Medicines for Overactive Bladder Work?

All five medications for overactive bladder work in essentially the same way: to decrease urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence. They block the nerve impulses to the bladder that cause it to contract and leak.
 

Overactive Bladder Medication Side Effects

Common side effects of these medications for overactive bladder include:
 
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD