Botox Bladder Injections

Botox bladder injections can be used to relieve the symptoms of incontinence and other bladder dysfunctions, and improve the quality of life of sufferers. They work by paralysing certain muscles so that they will no longer contract uncontrollably, and therefore are generally used to treat stress and urge incontinence.  Botox Bladder Injections can give excellent results for treating incontinence with the treatment becoming rapidly wide spread.

Botulism Toxin

Botulism toxin type a, or Botox, is highly poisonous in its natural state, but when purified it can be used safely for a variety of medical and cosmetic procedures. Although more commonly associated with cosmetic surgery, Botox can also be used safely in medical procedures, such as paralysing the muscles of the bladder. This means that incontinence caused by weak pelvic floor muscles or muscle spasms can be temporarily resolved.

Who can Botox Bladder Injections help?

Bladder dysfunctions affect a large number of people worldwide, including those suffering from multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, cystitis, or those recovering from a stroke. Those over the age of 40 also have an increased likelihood of being affected, with 1 in 6 people suffering from some form of overactive bladder. Botox injections into the bladder wall can drastically improve the quality of life for anyone suffering from incontinence or other bladder dysfunctions, but should only be used after other methods of treatment, such as bladder training or dietary changes, have been tried.

The effectiveness of bladder Botox injections may be reduced by certain medications, so you should inform your doctor or surgeon if you take prescription medication. Medications known to prevent Botox injections from working include:

• Nifedipine
• Amlodipine
• Verapamil
• Diltiazem

Botox injections can be dangerous if any of the following conditions apply to you:

• You are pregnant
• You have an egg allergy (albumin)
• You have Myasthenia Gravis, Eaton Lambert syndrome or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

How can Botox Bladder Injections help?

Botox injections can be used to treat incontinence where previous methods of treatment or management, such as medication or behavioural training, have failed. It acts by paralysing the muscles in the bladder so that they no longer contract involuntarily, and thus resolves many of the problems caused by incontinence, such as the urgent and frequent need to urinate.

The Botox will begin to take effect within 7 days of receiving the injections, and the effects will usually last for between 6 and 12 months, greatly increasing the sufferer’s quality of life. However, in some cases further injections may be required, and this can prolong the effects to up to one year. Bladder Botox injections differ from cosmetic Botox injections which need to be repeated regularly, as the muscles of the bladder can usually be re-trained (sometimes in conjunction with lifestyle changes), and so a single set of injections may be sufficient to cure incontinence.

Studies have shown the injections to be very successful at treating bladder dysfunctions, with most patients experiencing a significant improvement in bladder function and quality of life. The use of Botox bladder injections is primarily available at some private clinics by appropriately experienced and qualified urologists.

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