Intravesical Botox for Overactive Bladder
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Bladder Botox for Overactive Bladder
Contrary to popular belief, Botox is not just for fixing wrinkles and treating migraines. In fact, Bladder Botox is an FDA-approved therapy to treat Overactive Bladder (OAB) and Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI). If you always feel like you need to urinate frequently and urgently, it may be time to try intravesical Botox for Overactive Bladder in Clear Lake, Texas.
Dr. Dhir has been performing Bladder Botox for over a decade with tremendous results – the procedure takes under 5 minutes and is very well tolerated with minimal side effects.
Going through life while experiencing an uncontrollable urge to urinate (with or without messy accidents) can be incredibly stressful and embarrassing. It can be difficult to gauge when it will happen and this leads many to avoid running errands, going to public events, or even taking a flight to visit loved ones. Fortunately, this issue can be treated with Bladder Botox.
What is Bladder Botox?
OAB is a condition characterized by frequent trips to empty the bladder, the uncontrollable urge to urinate, and the need to urinate numerous times while disrupting sleep. It often occurs in conjunction with UUI – when the urgency causes a bladder spasm, leading to incontinence episodes.
Botox is a drug derived from a bacterium that paralyzes nerve fibers temporarily. In the case of Bladder Botox, multiple injections specifically target the bladder muscle to “calm” its function. This results in the ability to hold the bladder for longer periods of time, decreases frequent trips to the bathroom, minimizes urinary leakage, and improves sleep patterns. Results can be life-changing!
Candidates for Intravesical Botox
Bladder Botox is a useful solution for those with OAB (with or without urge urinary incontinence). These patients suffer from incontinence, urinating at least eight times daily or waking up at least two times every night to urinate. Most patients who consider this treatment option have already failed daily medications and pelvic floor physical therapy.
Intravesical Botox for Overactive Bladder is also ideal for those who have conditions such as hypertension and glaucoma that prevent them from taking OAB medications. In general, medications are not ideal for OAB treatment as they have harmful side effects like dry mouth, constipation, elevated blood pressure, and even early-onset dementia. Pelvic floor therapy may help but rarely is curative.
Your Consultation
During a consultation, Dr. Dhir will perform a comprehensive medical history and physical examination. He will analyze your urine specimen to rule out infection or excessive sugar levels, check a “bladder scan” to ensure you are emptying your bladder completely, and rule out other potential diagnoses.
Patients who are suffering from an Overactive Bladder or Urge Urinary Incontinence and want them treated with Bladder Botox will need to schedule a consultation ahead of time. The consultation will involve an examination of the patient and a discussion of their health issues.
Questions will then be asked about the patient’s medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms to better address the problem. During the consultation, patients are encouraged to ask any questions that they might have. Patients can also bring up any concerns regarding the treatment that might be bothering them.
How is the Procedure Performed?
To begin, you will be asked to empty your bladder and a nurse will clean the skin surrounding the urethra with a mild antiseptic solution. Dr. Dhir will then flush the bladder with local anesthesia using a catheter (narrow tube) to numb the bladder. If desired, general or IV sedation can also be arranged for patient comfort.
A tiny scope is passed through the urethra and into the bladder. A small needle is inserted through the scope and Botox is injected into the muscle of the bladder in a grid-like fashion. The procedure takes about 5 minutes. The injections do not hurt, since anesthesia has been administered; you may feel minimal discomfort, with some patients likening it to a period cramp. Bladder Botox usually takes effect in 10 days and the results typically last for 6 months.
Intravesical Botox for Overactive Bladder Aftercare
Following a successful Bladder Botox treatment, patients might need to self-catheterize until the Botox is completely gone during the short recovery period. After that, patients should be able to empty their bladder without assistance. They can usually go home shortly after a procedure conducted under local anesthesia. They can return home after around two to three hours if the treatment has been performed under general anesthesia.
There are also extremely rare cases where female patients can experience muscle weakness for a brief period of time. Over the next few days after treatment, patients are advised to avoid physically strenuous activities. Patients can usually go back to work soon after getting the procedure.
Some cases have reported feeling pain or experiencing difficulty while urinating. However, these are uncommon and temporary.
If your overactive bladder symptoms return, you will need another round of Botox injections. The treatment’s results usually last around three months, but they can also extend to six to twelve months.
Many patients who received bladder Botox reported enjoying a better quality of life due to the reduction of their symptoms. They have fewer or zero episodes of urinary incontinence, less-frequent bathroom trips during the day and night, and no more need to put on protective incontinence pads or adult diapers.
Risks or Complications
There are very few instances of Botox causing any major complications. Mild bleeding and urinary tract infection occur infrequently. Urinary retention, or the inability to completely empty your bladder, may occur in ~3% of patients; this side effect is temporary and can be avoided by limiting the amount of Botox injected.
Cost of Intravesical Botox for Overactive Bladder
The cost for Bladder Botox for OAB or UUI cases can depend on a few factors, which can be discussed during the consultation. The price can sometimes be affected by additional issues. Typically, the cost of this treatment is covered by patients’ health insurance providers.
Contact Our Office
Dr. Dhir is dedicated to performing innovative procedures like intravesical Botox for Overactive Bladder in Clear Lake, Texas, to help helping improve the quality of life of his patients. If you’re interested in learning more about Bladder Botox, please do not hesitate to contact our office to schedule your informative consultation today.