Here’s what you can expect from Botox bladder control treatment. Know this before you sign up for this new treatment option.

If you thought Botox treatments are just used to ease the wrinkles on your face, think again. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Botox bladder control treatment is real, and is a viable way to treat an overactive bladder (OAB) condition. Traditionally used for cosmetic purposes to give both men and women alike a smoother and more youthful face, Botox bladder control is the new medical treatment that was approved in 2013. Over these last few years, research suggests that Botox can be used to successfully treat other medical conditions too, one of them being urinary incontinence and overactive bladder issues.

What is OAB?

The first step is to ascertain whether or not you suffer from OAB. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), you may have OAB or overactive bladder if you generally feel the need to urinate immediately without wasting a moment irrespective of your fluid intake, if you need to urinate at least 8 times during the course of a day and at least twice or more during the night, and/or if you frequently face the problem of involuntary urine leakage.

Your OAB symptoms can be treated through a number of medical treatments. Most of these treatment options are directed at calming the muscles and nerves in and around the bladder area. Your doctor may recommend treatment options such as tablets, liquid medications, and/or patches, along with pelvic floor muscle exercises such as Kegels.

Is Botox Bladder Control Treatment a Proven Option?

Recently approved for treating OAB, Botox bladder control injections work by blocking the nerves and muscles of the bladder that are responsible for causing that urgent need to urinate sensation. According to The New England Journal of Medicine’s 2012 study, Botox bladder control treatment not only works just as well as tablets would, but may even be a better solution as compared to traditional ways of treating this medical condition.

The study on the efficacy of Botox bladder control as compared to anticholinergics treatment was conducted by physicians at Duke Medicine. In the course of the study, it was found that in the period of one month to over one year, the number of women who used Botox bladder control reported a much better control of their urinary incontinence issues as compared to those who used anticholinergics.

What Can You Expect from Botox Bladder Control Treatment?

The actual procedure of getting Botox bladder control treatment injections lasts for a very short time, and is known to be well tolerated by most patients. If your doctor recommends this treatment option, you are likely to undergo the Botox bladder control treatment procedure at your doctor’s office itself. Once administered, the effects of a Botox bladder control treatment injection may last up to 8 months at a stretch if not more. Post this time period, your physician will advise you about the need for another follow-up injection.

What to Do After Botox Bladder Control Therapy?

According to the International Urogynecological Association, a Botox bladder control injection takes some time to show its efficacy. However, most people have reported experiencing relief from overactive bladder symptoms within two weeks after receiving the injection. There is currently no maximum limit set on the number of Botox bladder control injections that a patient can take over the course of a lifetime. However, the FDA recommends having at least 12 weeks of buffer time between two Botox bladder control treatment procedures.

Are There Any Side Effects of Botox Bladder Control Therapy?

There are pros and cons to any medical treatment. In the case of Botox bladder control injections, it was found that the women using Botox to control their incontinence issues suffered through a higher number of urinary tract infections, and a higher chance of catheter use post two months of the treatment, as compared to the women on anticholinergics. However, anticholinergics did cause more cases of dry mouth than Botox.

Botox bladder control treatment may just be the better option to treat your OAB. Get all your other questions answered by your physician before you sign up for this therapy.