Botox Treatment

Botulinum toxin, more commonly known as Botox, can be injected into the bladder, which can help patients with overactive bladder.

Treatment

The Botox treatment is used primarily for patients who do not respond to any other treatments. Injecting Botox into the muscles of the bladder may help the bladder from contracting as often, thereby reducing the following common symptoms with overactive bladder:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Frequent urination
• Getting up more than twice a night to urinate
• Bladder muscle spasms
• Bladder leakage (known as incontinence)

The benefits of this treatment may last for about six months, and if successful, more botox treatments may be needed to control symptoms. Other common treatments that may be used in treatment are medications and behavioral adjustments and practices, such as pelvic floor exercises and bladder training. The risks associated with botox treatment for overactive bladder are potential nerve damage from the numbing of the bladder or the botox injections itself.

Prognosis

Botox treatment for overactive bladders tends to have a good success rate in stopping the bladder from contracting as much. Botox is injected into the area under local anesthesia in the office and is tolerated quite well.

Side Effects

The most common side effects associated with botox treatments for overactive bladder include:

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Urinary retention (not being able to empty the bladder completely)
• Hematuria (blood in the urine)
• Fatigue
• Insomnia