Some Medications That Can Cause Incontinence
Mechanism | Examples |
|---|---|
Weakness of the urinary sphincter or pelvic muscles (bladder outlet incompetence) | Alpha-adrenergic blockers (such as alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, tamsulosin, or terazosin), which relax the urinary sphincter Hormone therapy (usually estrogen/progestin combination therapy taken by mouth), which can contribute to thinning of the pelvic muscles and supporting tissues Misoprostol, which relaxes the urinary sphincter |
Blockage (bladder outlet obstruction) | Alpha-adrenergic stimulants (such as pseudoephedrine), which can cause muscles in the bladder and prostate to contract |
Underactivity of bladder wall muscles | Medications with anticholinergic effects (such as antihistamines, antipsychotic medications, benztropine, or tricyclic antidepressants), which inhibit bladder muscle contractions Calcium channel blockers (such as diltiazem, nifedipine, or verapamil), which inhibit bladder muscle contractions Opioids, which seem to inhibit bladder contractility |