Prescriptions

Has anyone ever taken Vesicare for stress incontinence? I was on Detrol LA and it didn't work, so now I'm trying Vesicare, once a day didn't work with that and now I'm trying twice a day? Don't want to have another surgery but I'm not very hopeful that these drugs will work for me.

Whats the reason for being prescribed Vesicare? There are other medications on the market to help control the symptoms of urge incontinence, so dont give up just yet.

stay well
diana

Hi Karen,

I have also been prescribed Vesicare for stress incontinence and urgency. I have a possible Fistula and await a diagnostic Cystoscopy to confirm if that is the case, but my Uro-Gynae prescribed this in the mean time to see if it will help me.

I am afraid I can't help you much though as I have not started the meds yet as it says to consult your doctor before taking it if you suffer from Autonomic Neuropathy and that is something else I am awaiting tests on (my health is all over the place at the moment).

I understand this med can cause a dry mouth and some other side effects. Has this happened to you?

I hope someone comes along soon who can share their experiences of this drug with you, and tell you whether it worked for them. My GP said it was a fairly new drug and she had to look it up in her book, also my chemist had to order it in specially.

Take care,

Sue.

KarenLNY,

I didn't know there were any pills for stress incontenience - I thought all the pills were for urge incontenience. I understood from my doctor that leaking was only solved by kegals if it's a little or (sling, TVT, TOT) surgery if the kegals don't work. I would be interested to know if there is something to take. Good Luck.

Well, I know it's been some time since I last posted, but I went for another visit with my gyn today and I am going to have anterior repairs done on 8/16 for stress incontinence. Neither the Vesicare or Detrol LA worked for me, and I must say I'm NOT looking forward to seeing the OR again in such a short time. I hate telling people I work with and also some of my family members that I need more surgery. My DH is the best. He's been here for me through the last 10 months and will be helping me again in August. We will be celebrating our 25th Wedding anniversary in November and were planning on going to Las Vegas in October. We might put it off for a few months so that I will be 100%. Any thoughts from anyone who had a hysterectomy and then had anterior repairs after would be greatly appreciated. Gotta run off to my Yoga and Meditation class now. I'll have to give that up for a couple months again after my surgery. Thanks, Karen

It's not surprising that the medication did not help you if you have stress incontinence; they are mostly effective in cases of urge incontinence.

And I hate to be discouraging, but the current thinking is that the anterior repair is a poor choice for the correction of stress incontinence. I would urge you to do some internet research. Statistically speaking, you have the best chance of long-term success with either a Burch procedure or a sling. In recent years the TVT has revolutionized things because it is so much less invasive than previous procedures.

Best wishes to you.

I'll have to agree with what's written here. The meds are for urge incontinence, not for stress. I've been suffering from both for several years. The meds do really help for the sudden frequent urges and the accidental leaks if you can't get to the bathroom in time. Kegels help the stress incontinence, usually if it hasn't gotten really bad. The TVT or the sling work for the stress incontinence if it's moderate to severe.

I haven't experienced any dry mouth or other symptoms from Detrol.

Good luck to all.

Karen,
I am 16 days post-op TVH/RSO and cystocele repair (anterior) and I had a foley catheter for 9 days and within 3 days of removing the foley - I felt like I was leaking again - I had to go that route because I was problems with stress incontinence and retention. So a wait and see approach. Discuss it with your doctor and make sure this will take care of the stress incontinence - would hate to see you have to have yet another procedure and recovery time.
Have you consulted with a urologist or a uro/gyn?

Well, I was a little discouraged to read some replies to my post, because I believe my gyn knows my body better than any other doctor and would NOT recommend sometime if he believes it will not work. I've been going to him since 1979 (when he was fresh out of school) and he is a true advocate of being pro-active and up-to-date with current procedures. I hate second guessing his choice of procedures for me. I haven't slept well since I saw him on Thursday and hope to get a good night sleep tonight.

YES !!! I started Vesicare last week and it is working great for me. It started working on the 2nd day. Good Luck.