Enablex Question (or any OAB medication)

[Turtlecat]

I'm going to leave a message about this with my urologist's office tomorrow, but wanted to ask others here about this.

I've been on Enablex for four days now and I think it's helping a little bit. But when I go to the bathroom, unless there's a lot there, my stream is really weak and stops, and then I have to strain to get more to come out. Sometimes I have to do this more than once. So far, though, in the morning when there's a lot more urine in there, it comes out fine. I think this is called urinary retention? My IBS-C is starting to get worse, too, but I might be able to fix that by upping my Benefiber, etc. I'm having to strain now a lot with that, too, and I know that's not good.

Has anyone here had this reaction to this type of medication (for overactive bladder)? If you did, were you able to continue taking it as long as it didn't get worse or did you stop?

Thanks!!

[hkh5]

I had that effect from both Enablex and Ditropan. My doctor told me that OAB medications relax the bladder muscle, and in some people they can relax it *too* much causing an inability to use the muscle to pee normally.

Neither medication helped with my frequency anyway, so it wasn't difficult for me to stop taking them. But if it's helpful for you, it might be a matter of deciding if the pros outweigh the cons?

Good luck.

[musiclover]

I had that problem while on Ditropan and the OAB patch, Oxytrol.

Please, do not strain. That is just going to give you pelvic floor dysfunction problems and make everything worse in the long run. What I found worked was to just go as much as possible, then get up and walk around and try again in five minutes. Usually the rest would come out then. Just don't strain. I didn't keep up with the OAB meds because it didn't help my frequency, either.

[KatieB]

I have tried several different OAB meds over the years and they just don't work for me. I always end up feeling like I have to GO and I can't. Then I start to panic that I'll never go again! It's bad for me. But everybody here is different. Maybe you should try drinking more water? I don't know, that's just my experience with OAB meds.

[ICNDonna]

It's good that you are calling your doctor. And please --- don't strain --- it will only make the situation worse.

Sending healing thoughts,
Donna

[Turtlecat]

Thanks everyone for your support! My current flare has lasted only two weeks, but it seems like an eternity.

The nurse said to stop the Urelle. Apparently Urelle has a little bit of the same type of medicine in it that Enablex does, but Enablex is better for helping the frequency. She's hoping that stopping the Urelle will be enough that I won't have the slight difficulty of going.

There is an RN at my urologist's office, Cheryl, that's listed on this site for finding a doctor; she's the IC expert, I believe. I haven't spoken with her during this flare, so may ask for her if I have to call again next week (urologist is out of town next week).

[mizmak35]

Along with all the other things that this drug does, I got horrible dry mouth.
I will only take it when I get desperate for the spasm to stop. Its a temp relief with side effects! Shirley