Can Botox help bladder problems?

Botox injections are not just for wrinkles on your face. They also can be used to help if you have ongoing bladder continence issues. Botox is one option to treat urge incontinence or overactive bladder in people who have not had success with other treatment options.

How successful is Botox for bladder control?

Research shows the drug is 70 to 80% effective for people who have sudden urgency-related leakage or incontinence, says urologist Sandip Vasavada, MD.

What are the side effects of Botox in the bladder?

The most common side effect of using Botox to treat incontinence or OAB is a UTI. Other side effects may include fatigue, painful or difficult urination, and temporary inability to empty the bladder.

How long does Botox injections in the bladder last?

The effect of Botox in the bladder is not permanent. In most patients the effects last 6-12 months (about 7.5 months on average).

What happens if bladder Botox doesn’t work?

If the Botox doesn’t work, you can switch to the InterStim or vice versa, she said. Both treatments work, Kavaler said. “They have different side effects and different trade-offs, and it’s up to the patient and the doctor together to figure out which of those trade-offs they are willing to tolerate,” she said.

Who should not have Botox?

Before using this medication, tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: bleeding problems, eye surgery, certain eye problem (glaucoma), heart disease, diabetes, signs of infection near the injection site, urinary tract infection, inability to urinate, muscle/nerve disorders (such as Lou Gehrig’s disease-ALS …

Does Botox help paralysis?

In the same way that Botox temporarily relaxes the muscles that contract to form lines and wrinkles, it can relax the muscles of patients with spastic paralysis.

Are Botox injections expensive?

Most people require more than one syringe to achieve the desired results. Botox, on the other hand, is measured in units and typically costs around $10 to $15 per unit. An average dosage of 30-40 units might be used to treat the forehead and eye area, for example, making the total cost around $300 to $600.