Bladder Control

[twobears]

Has anyone heard of taking magnesium supplements for overactive bladder? If so, what type, how much, etc.

[emmaciffo]

Hi there

I have never heard of using Magnesium Supplements to treat overactive bladder.
Where did you hear this, i am interested? I have tried pretty much everything out there and nothing works. The only successful treatment i have had was botox injections into the bladder wall. This worked but its $1000 every time you get the treatment over here in Australia and it wears off after 6 months then you need to get it every 6 months. It is too exspensive.
Would be extremely interested to try magnesium if you know anything
Thanks

[twobears]

Hi: I read it on the internet but I don't recall which website. It didn't give a dosage amount or how well it works, so I did contact my urologist. He had never heard of using magnesium for that problem. I have tried two different drugs for overactive bladder (Vesicare and Sanctura). They have helped but cause constipation, so I've traded one problem for another. Wish I could tell you something more positive, but I'm feeling pretty frustrated today!

[emmaciffo]

Tell me bout it, its hard to feel positive at all some times, one problem causes another, catch 22. I was on Vesicare and it did help but caused constipation alos, i had tried ditropan but that gave me incredibly dry mouth, shaking and reflux. What country are you in ?
I am due to speak to my urolgist soon, i will definetly ask him about magnesium. Im in Queensland, Australia.

[twobears]

I am in the U.S. and don't know what drugs are available where. Are Vesicare and Ditropan the only two you have tried so far? My next attempt is Enablex which seems like would cause the same constipation problem since part of how this class of drugs works is by drying everything out. Vesicare, Sanctura, and Enablex were my urologists top choices so, if Enablex doesn't work, I don't know what's next. He compared them to Hondas and Toyotas--what some patients prefer doesn't work for others. He gave me samples of all three at once and told me to just pick one and try it. I was hoping for a little more definite suggestion, but I guess experience has shown him that everybody reacts differently. I do know that I have read a person should not get constipated because it makes the bladder problem worse. You gotta love that, since the drugs themselves cause constipation! Enough whining about me--I'd be curious to hear what your doc says about magnesium. Let me know, please!

[Meleana]

I haven't, however I googled the topic and that's probably a little reading- good idea. No more than 400 cc in a day 600 could be detrimental. Improves nerves in the muscles? I read very little. Good luck. My mom is incontinent and doesn't want to wear Depends. I need to talk to her but she is embarassed.

[Dr K UroAZ]

There is alot than can be done for overactive bladder. First, try to "bland down" your diet and remove stimulants or irritants. Less caffeine, fluids, spices, dairy, wheat and the like, similar to an interstitial cystitis diet.

Magnesium is a muscle relaxant. Taking can help relax the pelvic floor whic be spastic. It may relax the bladder muscles themselves. Take the dose that would be present in a multi-vitamin.

Botox is short-lived and after 3-4 rounds, the body may not respond, so you'd have to go onto using the other variants of botulinum toxin marketed under various names. Done it. Its OK but doesn't last.

All the meds out there for OAB all block the receptors on the bladder slightly differently. Ditropan is also an anti-spasmodic: its not bad but causes a lot of dry mouth and constipation. Its generic.

Levsin/Levsinex are also generic and not bad.

Detrol is very good but many people don't respond after a while (years)

Enablex is good but may cause a wee-bit constipation. Lasts for a few weeks and if you can get by, its effective

Vesicare- lasts for 54 hrs in the blood. May be worthwhile to take it every other day to save $$

Sanctura XR- very new- very good. I've had many people respond quickly. It is excreted mostly unmetabolized into the urine. This is good because when it contacts the bladder surface directly in the urine, it may have a secondary effect (my opinion).

IF ALL ELSE FAILS: Sacral neuromodulation, aka Interstim.

A gentle electric current stimulates (or inhibits) the bladder nerves, suppressing the abnormal signals. A tiny lead (wire) is placed under the skin near the tailbone. About 60-70% of people with OAB will respond. Think of it like a small bladder pacemaker. Have done MANY. A test lead is left in for a week. If it works, the permanent one with a small battery is put in under sedation (hidden under the lowerback/buttock skin)

see more on it at my blog at at
www.femaleurologyaz.blogspot.com

Dr K UroAZ

[DQ4U]

[quote="Dr K UroAZ"]There is alot than can be done for overactive bladder. First, try to "bland down" your diet and remove stimulants or irritants. Less caffeine, fluids, spices, dairy, wheat and the like, similar to an interstitial cystitis diet.

Dr K UroAZ[/quote]



Less fluids doesn't seem to be a good idea you can become dehydrated.

[Dr K UroAZ]

In response to DQ4U:

"Less Fluid" doesn't mean the bare minimum or no fluid. Common sense is also necessary. If patients drink >2 L of fluid a day, and its out of proporation to their BMI, then they need to cut down on fluids.

[drake308]

You can take increments of magnesium throughout the day but it is better absorbed if you take it with calcium. Try Peter Gillham's Natural Calm Magnesium with Calcium. It calms my bladder and its naturally good for you. Go to their website and check it out at [moderator note: website address has been removed]. Hope this helps.