Medications

Antispasmodics

These medications, including anticholinergic medications and smooth muscle relaxants, work to calm the bladder. They have the effect of relaxing smooth muscle in the bladder and preventing contractions or spasms of the bladder. They are effective but can cause a number of side effects, most notably dry mouth. You can try and eliminate dry mouth by sucking on a sugarless candy or chewing a piece of sugarless gum. Other side effects include dizziness, constipation, blurred vision, and drowsiness. Anticholinergics can't be used by people with a certain form of glaucoma.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are used to treat an underlying infection that is causing the incontinence. This would typically be the case with a urinary tract infection or an inflamed prostate. The type of antibiotic used would depend on which bacteria are causing the infection.

Hormone replacement

Estrogen replacement therapy can be used by women who are experiencing vaginal dryness due to changes in estrogen levels brought about by menopause. Your health care professional is the best person to advise you about these products.

Other medications

For men suffering from incontinence caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate), your doctor may prescribe a medication that specifically treats the prostate condition. Desmopressin is an antidiuretic hormone that stops urine production while you sleep. It can be prescribed to help prevent bedwetting, which may reduce the need to get up many times during the night to urinate.