Botox Treatment for OAB & Urinary Incontinence: Side Effects and More

Affecting 12-17%1 of the Australian population, Overactive Bladder Syndrome is fairly common, and become more so as people age.

Overactive Bladder (OAB) is a problem with bladder function that results in the frequent and sudden need to urinate that may be difficult to control. The urge to urinate can also be difficult to control and lead to urinary incontinence, which can be embarrassing and limit day-to-day activities.

For people whose bladder condition does not respond to bladder training, pelvic floor exercises, or oral medication, Botox bladder injection therapy should be considered.

Botox treatment for an Overactive Bladder is available for both men and women, and can result in a greatly improved quality of life.

Symptoms

The biggest indicators of Overactive Bladder Syndrome are:

  • Frequency: Urinating more than 8 or more times within 24 hours.
  • Urgency: Feeling a sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to control.
  • Incontinence: Unintentional loss of urine immediately after an urgent need to urinate.
  • Nocturia: Having to wake up more than 2 time during the night to urinate

Treatment Options

There are four general OAB treatments:

  1. Bladder Retraining
  2. Pelvic Floor Training
  3. Medication
  4. Bladder Botox Therapy

To get a detailed breakdown of all options available for treatment for overactive bladder in males and treatment for overactive bladder in females, please click here.

When would you use Botox Bladder Injections for Urinary Incontinence?

Botox for Urinary Incontinence or OAB is generally reserved as a last resort. This is reserved for when a patience bladder condition does not respond to bladder training, pelvic floor exercises, or oral medication.

However, if you are unresponsive to these techniques, then Botox for Overactive Bladder treatment becomes a consideration.

How does Botox for Overactive Bladder work?

Botox is a neurotoxic protein produced by a bacterium. When injected in small amounts, Botox causes a muscle to weaken for three to four months or longer, making it an effective treatment for Overactive Bladder Syndrome.

By weakening the ability of the muscle, the number of contractions lessen and therefore patients experience relief from their symptoms. For the procedure itself, medication is injected directly into the bladder muscle under a local anaesthetic, with a small telescope placed in the bladder itself.

Botox Treatment for Urinary Incontinence has proven to be very successful and is very safe due to its nature of being a minimally invasive and quick surgery.

What Are Botox Bladder Injection Treatments Like for Women?

For women, the Botox Bladder Injection Treatment can be performed as a walk-in, walk-out procedure that doesn’t require an overnight stay. Local anaesthetic is used on the urethra, and the bladder is injected with 100 units of Botox.

About 80% will find a significant improvement in their urinary urgency and urge incontinence within two weeks, and the beneficial effect of that will last somewhere between six to twelve months, on average, about nine months.

What Are Botox Bladder Injection Treatments Like for Men/Parkinson’s Patients?

Men who require Bladder Botox Therapy are required to go into hospital for a day and have a light general anaesthetic when their bladders are injected with 100 units of Botox. Due to the male anatomy, it would be too uncomfortable to perform the procedure in an outpatient clinic setting.

For men with Parkinson’s disease with neurological urinary incontinence, they may need 200-300 units of Botox. It is a highly effective solution to improving the bladder control of these men.

Side Effects and Risks

Bladder Botox injection for an Overactive Bladder is a very safe treatment and any side effects are mainly short-term problems that are readily resolvable. Of course, as with any procedure, please discuss any risks with your urologist, and any potential Botox Bladder injections side effects.

There are a few Bladder Botox side effects to be mindful of, from mild to possible.

Mild side effects

Milder, and more common, symptoms include:

  • Blood from the urine as a result of the injection, and trouble completely emptying the bladder. This blood will wear off in a few days.
  • Urinary Retention: The rates of urinary retention among patients are between one in 10 and one in 20.

Possible side effects

The one major side effect that this procedure carries is extremely uncommon.

  • The Bladder May Not Empty: In a small percentage the bladder may not empty and need to be managed. This condition does however self-correct.
  • Breathing May Stop: If the needle enters a blood vessel in the bladder in the process of the injection, there is a very small chance that breathing may stop.

With all medical issues, it is always best to seek professional medical advice in all areas of urology. To find out more about Botox Injection for Urinary Incontinence to relieve your symptoms today, visit our Overactive Bladder Treatment page, or contact us at one of Dr Katelaris’ offices for a professional opinion.

 

References

Arnold J, McLeod N, Thani-Gasalam R, Rashid P. Overactive bladder syndrome – management and treatment options. Aust Fam Physician. 2012 Nov;41(11):878-83. PMID: 23145420.